Brussels - The European Commission has recommended that the video game industry there invest further in its ratings system, as well as adopt a code of conduct on the sale of games to minors within two years. "Videogames have become a strong pillar of Europe's content industry and are experiencing booming sales," said EU media commissioner Viviane Reding. "This is welcome but implies greater responsibility for the industry to ensure that parents know what kind of games their children play."

Brussels - The European Commission on Monday announced that it will adopt a mobile TV standard developed by Nokia (NYSE: NOK) and partners, in a bid to help jump start the nascent industry.

Mountain View, Calif. - Google (NASD: GOOG) announced on Tuesday that it has received approval from the European Commission for its $3.1 billion acquisition of online advertising giant DoubleClick, and completed the transaction. "With DoubleClick, Google now has the leading display ad platform, which will enable us to rapidly bring to market advances in technology and infrastructure that will dramatically improve the effectiveness, measurability and performance of digital media for publishers, advertisers and agencies, while improving the relevance of advertising for users," said Google chairman and CEO Eric Schmidt.

Brussels - Financial news and information publisher Thomson (NYSE: TOC) has won conditional approval from the European Commission to acquire international news agency Reuters (NASD: RTRSY), agreeing to divest certain businesses that include databases with financial information products before the deal proceeds.

Brussels - Apple (NASD: AAPL) is close to settling charges it broke European Union rules by operating iTunes Stores with different pricing in different EU countries, and will likely announce steps it will take to resolve the matter this week, Reuters reported, citing people familiar with the situation.

Brussels - The European Commission said on Wednesday that France may offer a tax break to video game developers in the country creating titles with cultural content, the Associated Press reports.

Brussels - The European Commission said on Wednesday that France may offer a tax break to video game developers in the country creating titles with cultural content, the Associated Press reports.

Mountain View, Calif. - Seven months after Google (NASD: GOOG) announced that it would pay $3.1 billion to acquire New York-based Internet ad firm DoubleClick, the company on Tuesday learned that it will have to wait a bit longer to close the deal.

Brussels - The European Commission has approved the merger of major record labels Sony Music and BMG, concluding its second review of the deal found no threat to competition.

Brussels - The European Commission will hold a hearing later this month at which executives from Apple and several major record labels will appear to discuss the Commission's charges that the iTunes Store might violate EU competition rules, Billboard reported.

Brussels - The European Commission has announced its support for the DVB-H mobile TV broadcasting standard led by Finland-based Nokia, over competing standards developed by Qualcomm and Korean firms.

Brussels - The European Commission has approved the launch of NBC Universal and News Corporation's online video distribution joint venture in Europe, after finding no antitrust concerns, Reuters reported.

Brussels - European authors and composers have been called upon to weigh in on a new European Union proposal that would make it easier to license songs and other works simultaneously across all 30 European Economic Area nations, Reuters reported.

Brussels - The European Commission has granted an extension to Apple and the major record labels on a deadline it imposed on them to respond to allegations of anti-competitive behavior with regard to iTunes Store pricing, Billboard reported.

Brussels - The European Commission has approved the $2.19 billion acquisition of BMG Music Publishing by Vivendi's Universal Music Group, Reuters reported.

London - The European Commission is investigating whether Apple and the major record labels violated EU competition rules, with iTunes Store deals that prohibit users in one country from downloading music from a website intended to serve another country, the Financial Times reported on Monday.