According to a Friday report in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Internet search biggie Google is apparently mulling over the possibility of working out a mobile-patent antitrust settlement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

The settlement which Google is reportedly considering is over a potential claim by US authorities that the way in which the company handles mobile-device patents is a violation of antitrust law. The claims are essentially linked to whether Google's Motorola Mobility subsidiary had duly fulfilled the licensing commitments which it had made after the adoption of its patents as industry standards.

In their claims, the US authorities have chiefly raised the issue that Google has not only inappropriately refused the licensing of the patents to some mobile-market competitors, but has also tried to gain court injunctions to prevent its rivals from selling their devices.

With the violation of antitrust law by Google in question, the WSJ report - citing two people familiar with the matter - said that Google is currently considering the likelihood of a settlement of an ongoing FTC probe which is looking into whether company had deliberately refused to license industry essential patents to its rivals in the mobile-devices arena.

While no decision has been made thus far to press a case against Google, the WSJ disclosure about Google contemplating a settlement with FTC comes after recent reports that the commission is probably considering the filing of an antitrust lawsuit against Google.