FTC to Appeal Ruling in Activision Blizzard Case
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reportedly plans to appeal the judge's ruling in the Activision Blizzard case, which went in Xbox's favor yesterday. This move could potentially prolong the legal battle over the blockbuster merger between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard in the US.
The FTC's attempt to block the deal led to months of court debates involving Microsoft, PlayStation, and other parties. Despite the odds seemingly stacked in its favor, the FTC lost the battle in court, allowing Microsoft to complete the merger.
However, the fight might not be over yet for the FTC. Reports suggest that the commission is considering appealing the judge's decision, although a final decision has not been made.
If the FTC decides to appeal, it would need to file as soon as possible and seek an emergency stay from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. This would extend the restraining order preventing Microsoft from closing the deal with Activision Blizzard beyond Friday.
However, legal experts are skeptical about the FTC's chances of obtaining an emergency stay from the 9th Circuit by tomorrow. Stanford Law professor Doug Melamed believes that it is highly unlikely that the Court of Appeals would be persuaded before the restraining order expires.
As of now, the temporary restraining order remains in place until Friday, unless the FTC files an appeal before then. If no appeal is filed, the ruling in favor of Xbox will stand.
If the FTC does decide to appeal, the outcome is uncertain and not guaranteed to work in its favor. The completion of the merger could be significantly affected by the appeal.
For more information on the Activision Blizzard deal, click here.
