Google Inc. is free to extend its dominance of the $50 billion Internet-search market after U.S. regulators ended an investigation into whether the company unfairly skewed search results to disadvantage competitors.

The Federal Trade Commission, after a 20-month antitrust probe, concluded Google was motivated more by wanting to improve its search results and user experience than by a desire to stifle competition, said Chairman Jon Leibowitz, who drew a distinction between dominating a market and doing so unfairly.

The FTC's decision clears the way for Google to continue adding features that have helped it beat back Microsoft Corp. and Yahoo! Inc. to become the world's top search provider and most valuable Internet company.

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