• Reuters, Monday, November 28, 2011 12:06 PM

Google is seeking EU regulatory clearance of its planned purchase of handset maker Motorola Mobility Holdings, Reuters reports, citing a note from the European Commission posted on its site on Monday. “Google unveiled the $12.5 billion deal to boost its patent portfolio in August, seen as a defensive move against rivals such as Apple Inc.,” Reuters reminds us.

The EC is expected to decide by Jan. 10 whether to clear the deal, which was notified to the regulator last Friday. Stateside, the Department of Justice is currently assessing the proposed takeover. If and when it closes, the deal will give Google more than 17,000 patents, which it can use to protect its Android operating system.

Fundamentally, Google's plan to pay $12.5 billion for Motorola Mobility is a defensive move against Apple and its highly successful mobile and tablet offerings. Separately, the EU Commission is investigating Google's business practices following complaints from smaller rivals, Reuters reports.

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