To some folks, Microsoft and its Xbox brand "bought" Activision Blizzard 6 months ago already, but the reality is very different.
As regulators around the world continue to give close scrutiny to the near $70B transaction, one bit of news may suggest that the US and its Federal Trade Commission (FTC) could be all but required to allow the deal very soon.
But like all things in the law, the situation is a bit more complicated than it otherwise may appear.
Either the deal is rocketing down the tracks or Microsoft just made an aggressive (and high risk) move against the FTC...in Virtual Legality.
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CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 02:04 Deal Imminent? 10:47 The FTC Process (HSR) 23:51 An Analog in Amazon 28:47 Conclusion
Discussed in this episode:
YOUTUBE PLAYLIST https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy_vBs7Qt9-ROfumOtIrSdP8
TWEETS https://twitter.com/XcloudTimdog/status/1548507973684584448 https://twitter.com/PlayStation/status/1547989404269965314
ARTICLES https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/microsofts-activision-buyout-could-be-approved-by-the-ftc-as-soon-as-next-month/ https://wccftech.com/ftc-requested-additional-info-on-microsoft-activision-blizzard-deal/ https://seekingalpha.com/news/3857237-microsoft-said-to-have-responded-to-ftcs-second-request-in-activision-deal https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazons-planned-purchase-of-mgm-to-be-reviewed-by-ftc-11624379614 https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-moves-to-force-ftc-antitrust-decision-on-mgm-deal-11646341124 https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/ftc-approaches-march-deadline-reviewing-amazon-mgm-deal-source-2022-03-03/ https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/amazon-mgm-merger-close-1235207852/ https://variety.com/2022/biz/news/ftc-may-challenge-amazon-mgm-deal-1235208241/ https://www.mayerbrown.com/en/perspectives-events/publications/2022/05/us-senate-confirms-5th-ftc-commissioner-now-what
LAW https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/18a https://www.ftc.gov/advice-guidance/competition-guidance/guide-antitrust-laws/mergers/premerger-notification-merger-review-process https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/62c5407cd3bf7f3002fadaf6/Commencement_notice.pdf https://comcom.govt.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0029/287534/Microsoft-Corporation-and-Activision-Blizzard-Inc-Statement-of-Preliminary-Issues-13-July-2022.pdf
"Virtual Legality" is a continuing series discussing the law, video games, software, and everything digital, hosted by Richard Hoeg, of the Hoeg Law Business Law Firm (Hoeg Law).
CHECK OUT THE REST OF VIRTUAL LEGALITY HERE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy9YAU61GoW-00K0TJOGnPCo
DISCUSSION IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL ADVICE. INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN THE LEGAL TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS VIDEO SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR OWN COUNSEL.
Twitter: @hoeglaw Web: hoeglaw.com