Google halts ITC patent case against Microsoft in wake of antitrust agreement

The Federal Trade Commission seems to be getting results so far: CNET reports that Google (GOOG) has decided to withdraw a patent complaint against Microsoft (MSFT) that Motorola had filed with the International Trade Commission before it was acquired by Google. According to CNET, the two Motorola patents covered “wireless and video coding” technologies that Microsoft had allegedly used in both the Xbox and assorted Windows Phones. The two patents were also standard essential patents that Google had voluntarily agreed not to use in offensive lawsuits against competitors as part of its antitrust agreement with the FTC last week, so it’s not surprising that Google would hastily withdraw complaints involving any FRAND patents that it owns.