The Federal Trade Commission had been investigating whether Levinsons double duty on the boards of both Google and Apple would lessen competition between the companies as they increasingly collide in the same markets.
The same issue had dogged Google Chairman Eric Schmidt until he stepped down from Apples board two months ago.
Levinsons resignation from Googles board takes effect immediately, ending his 5 1/2-year stint as a director. He will remain on Apples board, where he has been a director for nine years.
Levinson, who is also chairman of biotechnology pioneer Genentech Inc., owns a bigger stake in Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple than he does in Mountain View-based Google, according to regulatory filings.
Google didnt specify the reason for Levinsons departure, but it has previously acknowledged the FTCs inquiry into his roles at Google and Apple.
In a statement, FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz indicated his agency was prepared to sue Google and Apple if they hadnt purged their boards of the potential conflicts of interests.
“Google, Apple, and Mr. Levinson should be commended for recognizing that overlapping board members between competing companies raise serious antitrust issues and for their willingness to resolve our concerns without the need for litigation,” Leibowitz said.
Schmidt, who is also Googles chief executive, left Apples board shortly after his company unveiled plans for a computer operating system that would compete with Apples Mac computers. Google also makes software that runs on cell phones, putting it in competition with Apples iPhone.
Google didnt say whether it will fill Levinsons vacant seat. The resignation leaves Google with nine directors, including Schmidt and its co-founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin.
Google shares rose $7.37, 1.4 percent, to $523.62 in afternoon trading while Apples stock gained 4 cents to $190.51.