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EU Commission: Go ahead, Sony, own 'Sony Ericsson'

The European Commission OKs Sony's buyout of the Sony Ericsson brand, bringing us one step closer to Sony-branded mobile phones.

Sony CEO Howard Stringer
James Martin/CNET

Sony's takeover over of Ericsson's stake in their decade-long joint venture is well underway.

A nod from the European Commission this week removes one more impediment for Sony to dissolve its mobile partnership with Ericsson and assume full control.

Sony announced the $1.47 billion deal in October 2011 as part of a bid to more tightly steer the company's "four-screen strategy," which includes smartphones.

At CES earlier this month, Sony revealed several Android smartphones bearing its name, including the Sony Xperia S and Sony Xperia Ion.

With this hurdle out of its way, Sony is one step closer to acquiring--and then dissolving--the Sony Ericsson brand.