FTC loses appeal to stop Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard deal that already happened
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Summary
In a fresh blow to the FTC’s attempts to block the Microsoft/Activision Blizzard acquisition, an appeals court has upheld a lower court’s decision to deny the FTC’s request for a preliminary injunction to halt the deal.
The merger was completed in 2023, after the lower court ruled that the deal would not substantially lessen competition, and that the agency had not provided enough evidence to support its case.
The deal is still under review by the FTC in an administrative proceeding, but today’s ruling is a significant setback for the regulatory agency’s efforts to undo the acquisition.
The acquisition would potentially allow Microsoft to withhold or degrade content, leading to reduced competition in pricing, product quality and innovation, according to the FTC.
The decision was reported by Reuters, citing a statement from the court.