Microsoft x Activision Imminent? | Not So Fast, My Friends... (VL691)

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.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/ar_C-PpkZdE

#microsoft #activision #deal

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BITCAST (Sundays 11AM Eastern) - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgHBXONMT06nX_8RZ5r32UA

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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

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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

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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