Motorola's history of using FRAND patents in lawsuits has drawn criticism and attention from the Federal Trade Commission already, and apparently it has also a formal investigation. Bloomberg reports that the FTC has sent Google a civil investigative demand as it pursues the question of whether or not Motorola is abusing the system by using standards patents in its disputes with Apple and Microsoft. Reportedly both Microsoft and Apple have received information requests from the FTC. In a statement to All Things D, Google said that it would be "happy to answer any questions."

The FTC has previously said that the import ban Motorola is seeking against the Xbox and iPhone would have "the potential to cause substantial harm to U.S. competition, consumers and innovation." So while there's no word on just how far the FTC is planning on taking this probe, the commission's attitude towards Motorola's (and now Google's) actions seems fairly obvious: dubious.