The Justice Department has no objections to Google's $900 million bid for wireless technology patents held by Nortel, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Citing people familiar with the matter, the Journal said antitrust officials have concluded that Google's purchase will not create any competition concerns. Apple and RIM are also reportedly looking to nab the patents and have been talking to Justice officials.
In April, Google said it would make a "stalking horse" bid worth $900 million for all of Nortel's remaining patents and patent applications. The search giant's bid would be the minimum bid for a June 20 auction covering 6,000 patents, and any other entity is welcome to bid, provided they top Google's offer.
Nortel filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January 2009, and started exploring the sale of its businesses and assets in June 2009. The company will presumably use the proceeds to pay off creditors.
The patents cover "wireless, wireless 4G, data networking, optical, voice, internet, service provider, semiconductors and other patent portfolios," Nortel said. "The extensive patent portfolio touches nearly every aspect of telecommunications and additional markets as well, including Internet search and social networking."
In an April 4 blog post, Kent Walker, Google's senior vice president and general counsel, said that Google, as a "relatively young company," had not amassed the sort of patent portfolio owned by its competitors.
Rivals like Microsoft, AT&T, and Verizon on Monday filed an objection to the Google sale, arguing that it would give the search giant an unfair advantage, the Journal said.