In the case between Microsoft and the FTC following the giant’s intention to buy Activision-Blizzard, many things have been said; each wishing to defend their arguments with more or less virulence. However, you have to know how to handle words, and Microsoft now seems to regret its own.
Microsoft reconsiders its remarks
On December 23, Microsoft responded to the FTC’s fears with aplomb, saying that the FTC Administrative Tribunal’s review of the case violated Article II of the United States Constitution, and ran counter to of the separation of powers and due process clause of the 5th Amendment.
In an article published today by
Axioswe discover the news
reply of the firm, which no longer includes these remarks. Microsoft public affairs spokesman David Cuddy told Axios that they shouldn’t have used those terms.
The FTC has an important mission to protect competition and consumers, and we quickly updated our response to omit language suggesting otherwise based on the Constitution.
[…]
We initially put all potential arguments on the table internally and should have dropped those defenses before filing the case.
Activision follows suit
Also according to Axios, Activision is also dropping similar claims it included in its response to the FTC. The publisher said in particular that it was blinded by “ideological skepticism” and lost sight of the extremely competitive reality of the video game industry, as well as the guiding principles of the antitrust laws of the United States.
Remember that recently, we learned that Microsoft could validate the takeover without the approval of the FTC, if the CMA and the European Union were to confirm the takeover proposal.
At the same time, the CMA announced yesterday to extend the deadline for its investigation. If it was initially to deliver its verdict on March 1, 2023, it is finally April 26, 2023 that we will be fixed. To be continued.
