According to the Financial Times, Microsoft
Microsoft won similar approval from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission in June. Back then, the FTC reasoned that with Google
Foolish takeaway
I'm not saying Microsoft shareholders should be dancing in the streets over this decision. I still agree with fellow Fool Rick Munarriz that Microsoft is vastly overpaying for Skype, which it could have bought from eBay a few years ago for a fraction of the $8.5 billion it's shelling out today. Sure, there's merit to the argument that Microsoft, through its alliances with Yahoo!
But at the very least, now we have some assurance that Microsoft won't be forced to unwind the transaction and write off the (presumed) millions of dollars in due diligence costs and legal fees as a total loss. That's better than a sharp stick in the eye.
Will Microsoft prove all the skeptics wrong and turn Skype into a money-maker? Add the stock to your watchlist to find out.