FTC resumes case in its own judge about Microsoft’s Activision acquisition

The US Federal Trade Commission has resumed its case to stop Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard through its own administrative law judge. This means the FTC can continue to challenge the deal even after it closes.

The resumption of the case is noted in a court document and has been confirmed by the FTC to Bloomberg. “The FTC continues to believe that this deal poses a threat to competition,” FTC spokeswoman Victoria Graham said against the news agency. At the same time, an appeal is also underway in federal court to stop the takeover.

In July, the FTC’s case before the Administrative Law Judge, an independent administrative law judge of the agency, was temporarily stayed. Microsoft and Activision Blizzard asked the FTC to withdraw this case after Microsoft won another lawsuit: a preliminary injunction, with which the FTC wanted to block the acquisition. The FTC then paused the case. Both Microsoft and Activision Blizzard expect the deal to go through as planned, Bloomberg writes.

There appears to be less and less resistance worldwide to the $69 billion takeover. Last week, the British CMA announced that it provisionally agreed to Microsoft’s amended terms and conditions.

Update: adjusted so that the acquisition is for 69 billion dollars and not 69 million.