The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has appealed to a California court with a request to temporarily ban Microsoft from buying Activision Blizzard. The agency wants the court to prevent the corporation from closing the deal until the proceedings on it take place in the United States.
The FTC has indicated that it is concerned about recent media reports about Microsoft’s plans. According to them, the corporation is allegedly considering the possibility of completing the purchase, despite being blocked in the UK. If the deal is closed before the proceedings in the US, it will be more difficult for the FTC to challenge it.
Microsoft President Brad Smith said in response that Microsoft is still confident in its rightness, and the FTC’s request will only speed up the consideration of the transaction.
Recall that the FTC sued the deal between the companies in December 2022. Proceedings on this claim will begin on August 2.