Politics at Play | Regulation Concerns for Microsoft x Activision (VL612)

Activision Blizzard's year of news appearances is almost unbelievable, but perhaps none more so than the announcement that Microsoft and Xbox is purchasing them for just under $70 BILLION in cash.

But while some have dismissed concerns that federal regulators like the FTC or DOJ could come calling, a look at the political environment of 2022 might give some a moment of pause.

Political agencies act with political motivations...in Virtual Legality.

#Activision #Microsoft #Antitrust

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CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction
02:19 The Ambiguities of Antitrust
06:33 Some Very Certain Analysts
16:50 A Changing Political Landscape
26:47 Congressional Antitrust Bills
30:45 Conclusion

Discussed in this episode:

"Microsoft x Activision"
Hoeg Law Playlist
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy_vBs7Qt9-ROfumOtIrSdP8

STATUTES
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/18

FTC/DOJ SITES AND DOCUMENTS
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/media-resources/mergers-and-competition/merger-review
https://www.justice.gov/atr/horizontal-merger-guidelines-08192010
https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/reports/us-department-justice-federal-trade-commission-vertical-merger-guidelines/vertical_merger_guidelines_6-30-20.pdf
https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/public_statements/1596396/statement_of_chair_lina_m_khan_commissioner_rohit_chopra_and_commissioner_rebecca_kelly_slaughter_on.pdf
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/ftc-votes-to-rescind-vertical-merger-3486202/
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2022/01/ftc-and-justice-department-seek-to-strengthen-enforcement-against-illegal-mergers

ARTICLES
https://kotaku.com/microsoft-s-activision-blizzard-purchase-isn-t-great-b-1848386247
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2022-01-19-unanswered-questions-about-microsofts-activision-blizzard-deal-opinion
https://www.ign.com/articles/xbox-activision-blizzard-antitrust-monopoly
https://techcrunch.com/2022/01/20/tech-antitrust-self-preferencing-bill-american-innovation-and-choice-online-act/
https://www.theverge.com/2022/1/18/22890100/antitrust-bill-apple-google-big-tech-senate

TWEETS
https://twitter.com/BenjiSales/status/1483509768417337349
https://twitter.com/PaulTassi/status/1483510258425339910
https://twitter.com/Chris_Dring/status/1483564915990446086
https://twitter.com/RepJerryNadler/status/1484232680397053956

"Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy"
July 9, 2021 - President Biden
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/07/09/executive-order-on-promoting-competition-in-the-american-economy/

PENDING BILLS
https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/2992/text
https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/8.11.21 - Open App Markets Act - Bill Text.pdf

"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:
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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.

Twitter: @hoeglaw
Web: hoeglaw.com

DESIGN WORK
Joe Ellis (Logo Design)
Chris Leroux (Motion Graphics)
For more information: contact Chris at @Chrisleroux on Twitter.

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