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European Union antitrust regulators today approved Google's acquisition of the U.S. cellphone maker Motorola Mobility without conditions, but added a stern warning: Play fair in markets for smartphones and tablet computers, or face tough sanctions. The $12.5 billion deal represents Google's first foray into hardware. "If it wins global approval, the takeover could give Google a portfolio of patents that form an impressive defense against infringement claims as it works to develop its popular Android operating system for mobile devices" says James Kanter in the New York Times.

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