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FTC To File Injunction To Stop Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard Buy: Report

By  |  June 12, 2023

The Federal Trade Commission plans to file an injunction on Monday to prevent Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

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    Reuters reported that the FTC has filed for an injunction to halt the transaction before the July 18 deadline.

    The FTC filed a lawsuit to prevent the $68.7 billion acquisition and opted to present the case to its internal administrative law judge. The judge’s initial decision could be challenged and brought to the full commission for a final vote.

    After that, Microsoft could appeal to a federal court should the decision not go its way. The case is set to go before the administrative law judge in August.

    Read more: Microsoft Drops Claim Against US FTC In Activision Blizzard Case

    An appeal of the U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority’s decision to block the merger is also scheduled to take place this summer shortly after the acquisition deadline.

    “We welcome the opportunity to present our case in federal court,” Microsoft President Brad Smith said. “We believe accelerating the legal process in the U.S will ultimately bring more choice and competition to the market.”

    Microsoft has stated that their proposed deal would have positive effects on both gamers and gaming companies. They have committed to signing a legally binding consent decree with the FTC, which would include providing access to “Call of Duty” games to competitors like Sony for a period of ten years.