The European Commission has cleared Apple’s purchase of Beats. The trade regulator determined that while both companies do have overlap in goods and services sold, they don’t have a strong enough joint presence in Europe to cause competition concerns. U.S. regulators have not given their seal of approval to the purchase yet, but are expected to clear it for similar reasons.
The news isn’t all good for Beats and its likely new owner. Rival headphone maker Bose sued Beats on claims that it infringed on five patents for noise-canceling technology. The suit is trying to block Beats headphones from being imported into the U.S. in addition to compensation for damages and “other relief,” according to the filing. The civil complaint lists Beats Electronics and Beats Electronics International as defendants; Apple is not officially in the line of fire since the acquisition hasn’t been finalized, but we can be sure that its leadership will be closely involved with resolving the suit.