It was just a few hours ago that Google's acquisition of Motorola Mobility was approved by the European Commission, and now the U.S. Department of Justice has also given the deal the green light. The DOJ says that its Antitrust Division has thoroughly examined the deal and concluded that it's not likely to substantially decrease competition in the U.S. However, the department adds that, because of the importance of the mobile industry and the issues involving IP rights and antitrust law, it'll be keeping a close eye on the use of standards-essential patents. If any firm attempts to use those patents in an anticompetitive manner, the DOJ won't hesitate to intervene.

The Justice Department's decision marks another major milestone in the Google-Motorola deal's quest to completion. The acquisition isn't officially closed quite yet, but after earning the A-OK from both the European Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice today, it seems that the $12.5 billion buyout will likely go through. If you're interested in reading further into the DOJ's analysis this deal, you can find its full press release right here.

Via Reuters, Department of Justice