EU approval means nothing if Microsoft-Activision Blizzard fails to win UK appeal
May 17, 2023
By Simone Del Rosario (Business Correspondent), Brent Jabbour (Producer), Emma Stoltzfus (Editor)
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11 months ago
European Union regulators have given the green light to the hotly-contested Microsoft acquisition of gaming giant Activision Blizzard. The regulatory approval stands in contrast to its U.K. counterparts, which blocked the $69 billion deal less than a month ago.
Microsoft has vowed to appeal the U.K. decision, while it still faces regulatory scrutiny in the U.S. later this year.
Straight Arrow News Business Correspondent Simone Del Rosario spoke with Eleanor Fox about the regulatory hurdles Microsoft is facing. Fox is the Walter J. Derenberg Professor of Trade Regulation Emerita at New York University School of Law.
Question: This is a deal that has been challenged across three different jurisdictions. Is there any way that the deal works without approval from all three, the U.S., EU and U.K.?
Eleanor Fox: As a matter of fact, the deal doesn’t work if any one jurisdiction blocks it. So if the U.K. block stands and unless the U.K. wants the companies to pull out of the U.K., the merger just doesn’t go through.
Question: What is the U.K. issue with this merger?
Eleanor Fox: First of all, let me say that both the U.K. and the EU found the merger illegal. And the problem is about remedies. Microsoft owns one of the big PC operating systems, the biggest. It also owns consoles that show the content that Activision Blizzard makes and has cloud streaming.
The big issue in the case is whether Microsoft, after the acquisition, would use its leverage to make the most popular games exclusive to itself. And a related issue is Microsoft’s position in the whole gaming market, which is growing. And this related idea — and it relates to all of the Big Tech firms — is whether each one is solidifying a kind of ecosystem where it is in charge and owns all the pieces. It was the first element, though, that both agencies relied on, to worry about the fact that Microsoft will have too much control over the content of gaming, which gets streamed online.
Question: But the EU said that based off of the concessions that Microsoft is willing to make in the cloud space, they’re okay with green lighting this. Does Brexit have anything to do with this? Without it, would the U.K. have had the authority to challenge this separately from the EU?
Eleanor Fox: Of course Brexit does. Before Brexit, the U.K. was part of the EU and the EU law would stand. Since Brexit, we’re seeing the U.K. authority being very aggressive against mergers. And let me just drill into the question you’re asking because the question you’re asking is about remedies. And why is it that the U.K. found the offer of remedies not okay, and the EU found it okay? In all of these cases, when the agency finds the merger illegal, the companies will come forward — sometimes they come forward even before it is found illegal — and they say, ‘We will promise to do these various things. And if we do these various things, we think that we have satisfied you that the merger will not be anticompetitive anymore.’ This is called a fix.
In this particular case, it’s Microsoft’s promises to license its content, especially of the big blockbusters such as Call of Duty, so it can be streamed on any device and any console. Microsoft says this cures the problem.
The same promises were offered to the U.K. The U.K. went through each promise and it has a very detailed opinion as to why they’re still worried. The promises are supposed to last for 10 years. In the end, the U.K. is saying, ‘We really need an open market. We don’t want to trust Microsoft, we want the market to be open, not to rely on Microsoft’s promise that it will clear licenses.’
This kind of issue is coming up all the time now, whether agencies should accept fix-it promises of companies or whether they should just enjoin anticompetitive acquisitions. So in this one, the U.K. said we don’t trust the promises and the EU said yes, we do.
Question: Do you think that Microsoft has a chance with its appeal in the U.K. or do you think the U.K. is pretty steadfast in that decision? I know they have a different appeals process over there.
Eleanor Fox: They do, and there are various issues. There are issues of jurisdiction as well as all the issues of substance. I do not want to give a judgment on the chances of appeal. I know Microsoft is appealing and these cases are very, very complex. The U.K. decision, incidentally, is more than 400 pages long. It’s very careful. There are many ways in which a decision can be vulnerable and I’m not sure of all the ways.
Question: The U.S. issue has yet to be addressed. If the U.K. makes its final decision following the appeal and it’s still a no, is there even a reason for Microsoft to continue trying to pursue this deal? If the U.K. upholds its block of the deal, is that it for Microsoft-Activision Blizzard?
Eleanor Fox: That’s right. If the U.K. judgment against the merger stands, that’s it and Microsoft would then fold.
This interview has been edited for clarity.
SIMONE DEL ROSARIO: The hotly contested $69 billion merger between Microsoft and gaming giant Activision Blizzard gets the green light. In the EU at least it makes the acquisition all the more complicated considering less than a month ago, the UK blocked the deal. Microsoft is appealing. So where does it go from here? Joining me now is Eleanor Fox, Professor of trade regulation emerita at NYU Law, professor, very glad that you’re here to help us break this down. This is a deal that has been challenged across three different jurisdictions. Is there any way that the deal works without approval from all three, the US, EU and UK?
ELEANOR FOX: Well, and as a matter of fact, the deal doesn’t work if any one jurisdiction blocks it. So it’s the UK block stands and unless the UK wants the companies to pull out of the UK, the merger just doesn’t go through.
SIMONE DEL ROSARIO: What is the UK issue with this merger?
ELEANOR FOX: So first of all, let me say that both the UK and the EU found the merger illegal. And the problem is about remedies. And it was very significant that they both found it illegal. So Microsoft, of course, owns one of the big PC operating systems, the biggest. And also it owns consoles that show the content that Activision Blizzard makes, and also it has cloud streaming. The big issue in the case is whether Microsoft after the acquisition would use its leverage to make the most popular games exclusive to itself. And a related issue is Microsoft’s position in the whole gaming market, which is growing. And this related idea is, and it relates to all of the big tech firms, whether each one is solidifying a kind of ecosystem where it is in charge and owns all the pieces. It was the first element though, that both agencies relied on, to worry about the fact that Microsoft will have too much control over the content of gaming, which gets streamed online.
SIMONE DEL ROSARIO: But the EU has said that based off of the concessions that Microsoft is willing to make in the cloud space, they’re okay with greenlighting this. I know that the UK is digging in here and saying, we stand by our decision. I’m curious, does Brexit have anything to do with this? Without it, would the UK have had the authority to challenge this separately from the EU?
ELEANOR FOX: Yeah, so of course Brexit does. Before Brexit, UK was part of the EU and the EU law would stand. Since Brexit, we’re seeing the UK authority being very aggressive against mergers. And let me just drill into the question you’re asking because the question you’re asking is about remedies. And why is it that the UK found the offer of remedies not okay, and the EU found it okay. So in all of these cases, when the agency finds the merger illegal, the companies will come forward, and sometimes they come forward even before it is found illegal, and they say, We will promise to do these various things. And if we do these various things, we think that we have satisfied you that the merger will not be anticompetitive anymore. This is called a fix. In this particular case, it’s Microsoft’s promises to license its content, especially of the big blockbusters such as Call of Duty, they license it so it can be streamed on any device and any console. And Microsoft says this cures the problem. The same promises were offered to the UK, the UK went through each promise, and it has a very detailed opinion as to why they’re still worried and the promises are supposed to last for 10 years. And the UK goes through the promises and promises to cost them out. And in the end, it is saying, We really need an open market, we don’t want to trust Microsoft, we want the market to be open, not to rely on Microsoft’s promise that it will clear licenses. This kind of issue is coming up all the time now, the fix-it problems, whether agencies should accept fix-it promises of the companies, or whether they should just enjoin anticompetitive acquisitions. So in this one, the UK said, we don’t trust the promises and the E.U. said, yes, we do.
SIMONE DEL ROSARIO: Do you think that Microsoft has a chance with its appeal in the UK? Or do you think the UK is pretty steadfast in that decision? I know they have sort of a different appeals process over there.
ELEANOR FOX: They do. And there are various issues, there are issues of jurisdiction, as well, as well as all the issues of substance. And I do not want to give a judgment on the chances of appeal. I know Microsoft is appealing. And these cases are very, very complex. And the UK decision, incidentally, is more than 400 pages long. It’s very careful. There are many ways in which a decision can be vulnerable. And I’m not sure of all the ways.
SIMONE DEL ROSARIO: And I know that the US issue still has yet to be addressed. I think that’s going to be going to court in August. If the UK makes their final decision following the appeal, and it’s still a no, is there even a reason for Microsoft to continue trying to pursue this deal. Or if the UK says we’re sticking by our guns and this deal isn’t happening, that’s it for Microsoft, Activision.
ELEANOR FOX: That’s right. If the UK judgment against the merger stands, that’s it and Microsoft would then fold.
SIMONE DEL ROSARIO: Professor Eleanor Fox, thank you so much for your time today. We really appreciate you breaking that down.
ELEANOR FOX: Thank you so much. Bye.
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EU backs Microsoft buying Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard. But the $69B deal is still at risk
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EU backs Microsoft buying Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard. But the $69B deal is still at risk
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EU backs Microsoft buying Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard. But the $69B deal is still at risk
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EU backs Microsoft buying Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard. But the $69B deal is still at risk
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EU backs Microsoft buying Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard. But the $69B deal is still at risk
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Video games: why did Brussels approve Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard
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Microsoft’s bid to buy Activision Blizzard clears a key hurdle. But the $69B deal is still at risk
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Microsoft’s bid to buy Activision Blizzard clears a key hurdle. But the $69B deal is still at risk
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EU approves Microsoft-Activision merger, at odds with UK, US regulators
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The EU approves Microsoft’s $68.7 billion Activision Blizzard takeover
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Video games: EU Commission allows Microsoft to acquire Activision Blizzard
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EU Surprises by Approving Microsoft Activision Merger After UK Shut It Down
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What’s next for the Microsoft-Activision deal after receiving EU approval?
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European Commission agrees to Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard
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Microsoft’s Activision takeover approved by EU after UK veto
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Microsoft wins EU antitrust approval for Activision deal vetoed by UK
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EU approves Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, clearing huge hurdle
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EU backs Microsoft buying Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard. But the $69B deal is still at risk
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EU backs Microsoft buying Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard. But the $69B deal is still at risk
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EU antitrust regulators clear $69 billion Microsoft, Activision deal
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Microsoft wins EU antitrust nod for Activision deal
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EU greenlights Microsoft takeover of Activision Blizzard
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Microsoft-Activision Blizzard £55bn merger approved by EU – despite UK rejection
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Microsoft-Activision Blizzard deal approved by EU
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EU backs Microsoft buying Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard. But the $69B deal is still at risk
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European Union commission approves Microsoft’s bid for gaming giant Activision
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EU backs Microsoft buying Call of Duty maker Activision
Click to see story on Al Jazeera
EU approves Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, subject to certain “commitments”
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EU Antitrust Regulators To Approve Microsoft’s $69B Activision Acquisition Later This Month: Report – Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ:ATVI)
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EU backs Microsoft buying Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard. But the $69B deal is still at risk
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EU backs Microsoft buying Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard. But the $69B deal is still at risk
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EU backs Microsoft buying Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard. But the $69B deal is still at risk
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EU backs Microsoft buying Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard. But the $69B deal is still at risk
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Microsoft’s $69 billion Activision takeover wins EU approval
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Business Daily – EU approves Microsoft bid to acquire Activision Blizzard game studio
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Europe greenlights Microsoft’s $68.7B Activision acquisition
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EU backs Microsoft buying Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard
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Microsoft’s $69 billion Activision deal wins E.U. approval
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EU backs Microsoft buying Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard. But the $69B deal is still at risk
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EU approves Microsoft’s deal to buy Activision Blizzard
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EU backs Microsoft buying Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard. But the $69B deal is still at risk
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The EU just approved Microsoft’s $69 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard but the deal still has big British problems
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Microsoft’s $69bn Activision Blizzard deal gets approval from EU
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EU Commission: Microsoft may take over game maker Activision
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Microsoft wins EU antitrust approval for Activision deal vetoed by UK
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EU backing Microsoft deal for Activision Blizzard is no done deal
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EU antitrust regulators clear $69 billion Microsoft, Activision deal By Reuters
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Microsoft’s Activision Deal Cleared by EU. It’s Still in Trouble.
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EU approves Microsoft’s Activision takeover
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Microsoft Wins EU Antitrust Approval for $69 Billion Activision Deal: All Details
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EU approves Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard
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Microsoft wins EU antitrust approval for Activision deal vetoed by UK
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Microsoft’s bid to buy Activision Blizzard clears key hurdle, but $69bn deal is still at risk
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EU approves Microsoft’s acquisition of video games giant Activision Blizzard
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Microsoft’s bid to buy game maker clears a key hurdle
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Microsoft’s $75 Billion Activision Blizzard Deal Gets EU Approval
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Game on: Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard acquisition approved by EU, but there are challenges ahead
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É oficial: UE dá luz verde à compra da Activision Blizzard pela Microsoft
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Microsoft’s $69B purchase of Activision cleared by EU regulators
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EU approves Microsoft acquisition of Activision Blizzard, boosting deal after UK block
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Microsoft wins EU antitrust approval for Activision deal vetoed by UK
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Microsoft wins EU antitrust approval for Activision deal vetoed by U.K.
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Microsoft Wins EU Antitrust Approval for Activision Deal
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EU approves £55bn tie-up between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard
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EU authorizes $69 billion deal between Microsoft and Activision, the largest transaction in the history of the video game sector
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UE aprova aquisição da Activision Blizzard pela Microsoft por US$ 75 bilhões
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Microsoft-Activision Buyout Approved By European Commission
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EU regulators approve Microsoft and Activision Blizzard deal
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Kauf von Activision Blizzard durch Microsoft genehmigt
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EU backs Microsoft buying Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard. But the $69B deal is still at risk
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Video games: Microsoft and Activision Blizzard — EU approves biggest gaming deal in history
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EU backs Microsoft buying Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard. But the $69B deal is still at risk
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EU backs Microsoft buying Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard. But the $69B deal is still at risk
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EU backs Microsoft buying Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard. But the $69B deal is still at risk
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EU backs Microsoft buying Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard. But the $69B deal is still at risk
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The European Union approves Microsoft’s purchase of Activision Blizzard
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Activision-Übernahme durch Microsoft genehmigt
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Microsoft’s bid to buy Activision Blizzard clears a key hurdle. But the $69B deal is still at risk
Click to see story on St. Albert Gazette
Microsoft’s bid to buy Activision Blizzard clears a key hurdle. But the $69B deal is still at risk
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Microsoft’s bid to buy Activision Blizzard clears a key hurdle. But the $69B deal is still at risk
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EU backs Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard takeover
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Microsoft’s bid to buy Activision Blizzard clears a key hurdle. But the $69B deal is still at risk
Click to see story on Orillia Matters
Microsoft’s bid to buy Activision Blizzard clears a key hurdle. But the $69B deal is still at risk
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Microsoft’s bid to buy Activision Blizzard clears a key hurdle. But the $69B deal is still at risk
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EU backs Microsoft buying Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard. But the $69B deal is still at risk
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Microsoft’s bid to buy Activision Blizzard clears a key hurdle. But the $69B deal is still at risk
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European Commission approves Microsoft-Activision Blizzard deal
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Microsoft’s bid to buy Activision Blizzard clears a key hurdle. But the $69B deal is still at risk
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Microsoft’s bid to buy Activision Blizzard clears a key hurdle. But the $69B deal is still at risk
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EU regulators approve Microsoft’s $69B Activision Blizzard acquisition after Microsoft made concessions to keep rivals’ access to Call of Duty and other games
Click to see story on techmeme.com
Purchase of Activision for $69 billion from Microsoft approved by the EU
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EU backs Microsoft buying Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard. But the $69B deal is still at risk
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The European Union approved the agreement Microsoft and Activision Blizzard. The British regulator considers this a mistake
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Comiss�o Europeia d� luz verde � compra da Activision pela Microsoft
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European Commission Approves Microsoft’s Activision-Blizzard Acquisition
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EU Backs Microsoft’s Takeover of Call of Duty Maker Activision Blizzard
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EU green light on Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision, London vetoes
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Restart game? EU approves Microsoft’s $69bn Activision bid weeks after UK rejected deal
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Kauf von Activision Blizzard durch Microsoft genehmigt
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EU backs Microsoft buying Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard. But the $69B deal is still at risk
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Microsoft’s Bid To Buy Activision Blizzard Clears Key Hurdle
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Microsoft’s $69 Billion Activision Deal Approved by the EU Commission
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Microsoft’s Bid To Buy Activision Blizzard Clears Key Hurdle – KFOR FM 101.5 1240 AM
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The European Commission approves the purchase of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft
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Europe approves purchase of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft
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UK’s regulator says EU is wrong to approve Microsoft’s Activision deal
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Microsoft: EU approves acquisition of Activision Blizzard
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EU approves Microsoft’s multi-billion dollar acquisition of Activision
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Videospiel-Industrie: EU genehmigt 69 Milliarden Dollar schwere Activision-Übernahme durch Micr
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Microsoft Activision Blizzard
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Europe gives green light to takeover of Activision by Microsoft
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Kauf von Activision Blizzard durch Microsoft genehmigt
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EU Commission clears Microsoft’s Activision-Blizzard acquisition with conditions
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One Approval Down, Two More to Go: Microsoft Wins EU’s Approval for Activision Deal
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EU backs Microsoft buying Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard. But the $69B deal is still at risk
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Microsoft may swallow Activision Blizzard according to the EU — one snag remains
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EU Approves Microsoft Bid for Activision Blizzard | Business World
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Microsoft’s bid to buy Activision Blizzard clears a key hurdle. But the $69B deal is still at risk
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Microsoft’s bid to buy Activision Blizzard clears a key hurdle. But the $69B deal is still at risk
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EU Commission approves purchase of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft
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Microsoft’s bid to buy Activision Blizzard clears a key hurdle. But the $69B deal is still at risk
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EU backs Microsoft buying Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard. But the $69B deal is still at risk – The Morning Sun
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Microsoft’s bid to buy Activision Blizzard clears a key hurdle. But the $69B deal is still at risk
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Microsoft’s bid to buy Activision Blizzard clears key hurdle – Maryland Daily Record
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European Union approves purchase of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft
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EU backs Microsoft buying Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard. But the $69B deal is still at risk
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EU backs Microsoft buying Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard. But the $69B deal is still at risk
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EU approves Microsoft-Activision takeover despite London veto
Click to see story on euractiv.de
UK MPs grill regulator over Microsoft Activision Blizzard deal block, day after EU grants approval
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Activision Blizzard’s Microsoft takeover of Activision Blizzard thanks to concessions | Českénoviny.cz
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The European Union authorises the acquisition of Activision by Microsoft
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EU backs Microsoft buying Activision Blizzard, $69B deal is still at risk
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154 other sources covering this story
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