Microsoft To Buy Bungie? When Is A Denial Not Really A Denial? (VL314)

Is Bungie in talks to sell out to Microsoft? Have such talks *ever* happened? Imran Khan of Kinda Funny, Jeff Grubb of GamesBeat, and Tom Phillips of Eurogamer sure think so. But why then did the CEO of Bungie, Pete Parsons, deliver a flat denial on Twitter stating in no uncertain terms that "This is False"?

Well like most things in corporate messaging, there's more here than initially meets the eye.

When is a denial not a denial? When it categorically denies a multi-conditional paraphrase of a rumor speculated on in a casual podcast by two separate people.

CEOs don't wear halos, but their destiny *is* to parse language...in Virtual Legality.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/coA9C4S3ZCU

#Microsoft #Bungie #Rumors
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Discussed in this episode:

"Rumor: Microsoft has been in talks to acquire Bungie multiple times but they fell through each time due to Bungie's high price"
Tweet - September 14, 2020 - Nibel (@Nibellion)
https://twitter.com/Nibellion/status/1305478072666292229

"GB Decides 163: When Will We Get PS5 Preorders?"
YouTube Video - September 11, 2020 - Jeffrey Grubb
https://youtu.be/jTaHSyzNoB4

"Microsoft held talks to buy Bungie - report"
Eurogamer - September 14, 2020 - Tom Phillips
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2020-09-14-microsoft-held-talks-to-buy-bungie-report

"This is false."
Tweet - September 14, 2020 - Pete Parsons
https://twitter.com/pparsons/status/1305528354318163968

"Bungie emphatically denies Microsoft buyout rumor"
PC Gamer - September 14, 2020 - Andy Chalk
https://www.pcgamer.com/bungie-emphatically-denies-microsoft-buyout-rumor/

"Hey Pete, which parts of this tweet are you saying are false?"
Tweet - September 14, 2020 - Tom Phillips (@tomphillipsEG)
https://twitter.com/tomphillipsEG/status/1305532247538380800

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"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.

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Twitter: @hoeglaw
Web: hoeglaw.com
Blog: hoeglaw.wordpress.com