MICROSOFT HAS asked EU antitrust regulators to intervene in a patent dispute with Google and Motorola Mobility as it stepped up its battle against the internet search giant.

Microsoft complained that Motorola Mobility was trying to block its products by charging too much for using its patents in Microsoft products.

The complaint came a week after the European Commission and the US justice department approved Google’s $12.5 billion (€9.4 billion) acquisition of Motorola Mobility.

“Earlier today, Microsoft filed a formal competition law complaint with the European Commission against Motorola Mobility and Google,” said Microsoft deputy general counsel Dave Heiner. “We have taken this step because Motorola is attempting to block sales of Windows PCs, our Xbox game console and other products.”

Mr Heiner had initially named Motorola Mobility but said later the complaint included Google.

Mr Heiner said Motorola had filed lawsuits in the US and Europe demanding Microsoft take its products off the market, or remove their standards-based ability to play video and connect wirelessly. “The only basis for these actions is that these products implement industry standards on which Motorola claims patents,” he said. “Motorola is on a path to use standard essential patents to kill video on the web, and Google, as its new owner, does not seem to be willing to change course.”

Google declined to comment.