According to unnamed sources close to the ongoing negotiations involving Internet search giant Google and the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over patents case, a settlement deal between the two parties is apparently on the cards; and could possibly come as early as this week.

With the FTC having alleged that Google has violated antitrust law by attempting to block competitors' access to crucial smartphone-technology covered by the patents it picked up with its Motorola Mobility acquisition, the near settlement deal will chiefly pertain to how Google uses the acquired patent-stockpile to target its rivals.

As per the information shared by the sources on the condition of anonymity, the consent decree which the FTC is likely to reach with Google will restrict Google's ability to seek injunctions against those rival devices which depend on the so-called standard essential patents.

The sources further added that the settlement agreement will, however, not enforce a complete ban on Google seeking injunctions in cases in which the company has agreed to license its patented technology on "fair and reasonable" terms.

With the key issue being Google's efforts to block the US imports of Apple and Microsoft devices allegedly due to patent-infringement reasons, Google spokesman Adam Kovacevich reiterated Google's commitment "to license on fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory terms;" and said that his company will be "happy to answer any questions the FTC may have."