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FTC unconditionally approves Sony-EMI music publishing merger

By  |  July 1, 2012

The Federal Trade Commission has voted 5-0 to close its investigation into whether Sony’s proposed acquisition of EMI’s music publishing business would violate Section 7 of the Clayton Act or Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act. The closing of the investigation allows the two parties to go forward with the $2.2 billion deal, after receiving EU approval in April.

The European Commission had conditioned its approval on divesting worldwide publishing rights to four “valuable and attractive” catalogues and the musical works of 12 contemporary authors. The catalogues are Virgin UK, Virgin Europe, Virgin US, and Famous Music UK. The authors include Robbie Williams, Lenny Kravitz, and Ben Harper.

Full content: FTC Press Release

 

Related content: Intellectual Property Rights Protection Versus Antitrust: Tug of War?

 

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