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Microsoft Defends $69 Billion Acquisition of Activision Blizzard in Antitrust Lawsuit
Microsoft is set to defend its planned acquisition of Activision Blizzard, worth $69 billion, in a private antitrust lawsuit brought by video gamers in San Francisco federal court. The claimants argue that the deal will harm industry competition and should be stopped. US District Judge Jacqueline Corley will weigh a request to issue a preliminary injunction on the acquisition. The deal faces intense regulatory scrutiny by the US, European Union, UK, and other competition law enforcers.
Microsoft’s Defense
Microsoft has defended the tie-up as benefiting gamers and has asked Corley to deny blocking the acquisition. The company’s lawyers argued that this lawsuit is unprecedented and that the plaintiffs have not cited a single case where a court has enjoined a merger based on alleged harms claimed by a few individual consumers.
Legal Challenges
British antitrust regulators stated in April that they would block Microsoft’s acquisition after the company failed to address competition concerns. Correspondingly, the US Federal Trade Commission’s case against the deal is pending at the agency. However, US antitrust laws allow private consumers to sue over proposed acquisitions in lawsuits that are distinct from any federal regulatory actions.
Plaintiffs Urge Corley to Block Deal
Joseph Alioto, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, claimed that the gamers have a “very strong complaint” challenging the acquisition. The plaintiffs’ lawyers urged Corley to block the deal to allow a trial on the merits of the acquisition to take place. They stated that the loss of competition cannot be reclaimed, and unwinding the merger after consummation is highly problematic and disfavored, making divestiture post-consummation significantly more difficult.
Demartini v. Microsoft
The case is Demartini v. Microsoft, US District Court for the Northern District of California, No. 3:22-cv-08991. Microsoft faces a significant legal battle as plaintiffs aim to halt the acquisition amidst claims that the deal will harm industry competition.
OnePlus Launches its First Tablet: The OnePlus Pad
OnePlus has launched its first tablet in India, the OnePlus Pad, only sold in a Halo Green colour option. This launch indicates that OnePlus has entered a new territory dominated by Apple’s iPad.
Orbital Discusses the OnePlus Pad Launch
On Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast, we have discussed the launch of the OnePlus Pad and more. It is available on various platforms such as Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and wherever you get your podcasts.
FAQs
What is the Microsoft acquisition of Activision Blizzard?
The acquisition is a $69 billion deal announced in January 2022. Activision Blizzard is the maker of Call of Duty, one of the most popular video games globally, with millions of players worldwide.
What is the antitrust lawsuit against Microsoft?
The lawsuit is a private antitrust suit in San Francisco federal court involving gamers raising concerns about the Microsoft acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The claimants argue that the deal will harm industry competition.
What is the status of the Microsoft-Activision Blizzard acquisition?
The deal faces intense regulatory scrutiny by the US, European Union, UK, and other competition law enforcers. British antitrust regulators stated in April that they would block Microsoft’s acquisition after it failed to address competition concerns. The US Federal Trade Commission’s case against the deal is pending at the agency.
What is the OnePlus Pad?
The OnePlus Pad is the first tablet launched by OnePlus, available only in the Halo Green colour option. It is set to compete with Apple’s iPad and other tablet devices in the market.
Where can I listen to the Orbital podcast discussing the OnePlus Pad launch?
The podcast is available on various platforms such as Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and wherever you get your podcasts.
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