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The FTC is reportedly looking into Microsoft’s $13 billion OpenAI investment (www.engadget.com)

submitted 10 months ago by [email protected] to c/technology

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[–] reddig33 53 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (2 children)

You just let Microsoft buy Activision. You’re not going to do shit about this either.

[–] [email protected] 63 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

The FTC fully opposed it and is still opposing it as of Dec 6th. The FTC sued twice to stop the deal, and is currently appealing the merger a judge approved.

They are opposing it so much it is drawing scrutiny on the extremely aggressively antitrust chair Biden appointed, Lina Khan, a person who literally wrote a lauded economics paper about how amazon became a monopoly using anticompetitive practices and illegal tactics.

Get pissed at the government if you like, but at least get your facts straight first.

[+] reddig33 -18 points 10 months ago (1 children)

“The FTC withdrew its request after courts did not find their anti-trust compelling to block the merger”

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acquisition_of_Activision_Blizzard_by_Microsoft

[–] [email protected] 37 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

My article is from 3 days ago. When was your source in Wikipedia from?

EDIT: From your own source

The FTC formally withdrew its challenge to the acquisition on July 20, 2023, though they have announced their intent to refile at a later time.[78] The FTC reopened its case against the merger on September 27, 2023, though was unable to block the merger from occurring.[79]

So they withdrew their challenge in July and stated they would refile. They did refile in September, and are currently appealing a decision to allow the merger by a judge as of Dec 6th.

The FTC has been actively fighting this merger every step of the way and has yet to stop.

[–] reddig33 -3 points 10 months ago (1 children)

The deal has already closed. I wish them luck.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

It's not fully "closed," no matter what Microsoft claims. Its been approved by a lower court judge, and the FTC are currently appealing that judgement.

Fighting the merger in court 3 separate times sure is different than "letting Microsoft buy Activision" though, isn't it?

[–] jdrch 26 points 10 months ago (1 children)

The FTC tried & failed. They'll most likely fail here too. It's tough for courts to rule against what the FTC sees as unfair competition when even the judges are likely Amazon Prime & Big 3 ecosystem subscribers.

[–] cybersandwich 7 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I'm not a lawyer or legal expert but my layman's understanding is the laws on antitrust are a 100 years old. Most of these companies skirt them "technically". There is thing about proving consumer harm and some of these, in the short term, are arguable better for consumers. Likewise proving an actual monopoly with old time definitions is hard because in a lot of cases there is technically competition.

Let me end by saying, I think it's horse she and they are plenty anti competitive practices out there, but the FTC is fighting with a hand tied behind their back with the laws in place.

[–] jdrch 2 points 10 months ago

I can't imagine any law that would preclude the status quo, as Microsoft doesn't own a controlling stake in OpenAI anyway. It sounds like the FTC is picking its targets based on market cap only.