Google likely to settle antitrust probe Google is expected to resolve a 20-month antitrust probe by U.S. regulators Thursday with a voluntary agreement and a consent decree on the company's alleged misuse of patents, three people familiar with the matter said. The FTC's decision not to take action is a blow to competitors including Microsoft, Yelp and Expedia and comes at a time when the European Union is seeking a "detailed commitment" on search to end its probe into allegations that Google discriminates against rivals. "If the FTC fails to take decisive action to end Google's anticompetitive practices, and locks itself out of any remedies to Google's conduct that are offered in Europe later this month, the FTC will have acted prematurely and failed in its mission of protecting America's consumers," read a FairSearch.org blog post published Wednesday.