On Thursday, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ended its antitrust probe against the Internet search giant Google; and arrived at the conclusion that the company had not resorted to any manipulation of its Web search results to adversely affect competitors.

With the FTC clearing Google core search in the probe, the company has worked out a settlement promise with the agency that it will discontinue the practice of "scraping" reviews and other data from its competitors' websites for its own products. In addition, Google has also reportedly promised the US regulators that it will allow the export of data to advertisers for independent evaluation of advertising campaigns.

According to the information shared by the FTC, Google has also agreed that it will no longer request sales bans when it files lawsuits against companies that violate its `standard essential' patents which ensure interoperability.

Meanwhile, anticipating that the FTC's decision to end the `search bias' investigation against Google may garner criticism, FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz said at a Thursday press conference that although some people wanted the agency like "to bring a big search bias case" against Google, the "facts aren't there" to pursue such a case.

Leibowitz further added that the voluntary changes which Google has promised to make to its business practices will essentially "ensure that consumers continue to reap the benefits of competition in the online marketplace and in the market for innovative wireless devices they enjoy."