Microsoft Wins Dismissal of Gamers’ Suit Over $69 Billion Activision Deal
Microsoft Corp. on Monday won dismissal of a private consumer antitrust lawsuit over its $69 billion proposed purchase of “Call of Duty” maker Activision Blizzard Inc., but the plaintiffs were given 20 days to refine their legal challenge.
A federal judge in San Francisco ruled that the lawsuit from a group of video game plaintiffs “lacks allegations” supporting their claim that the proposed acquisition would harm market competition.
“Plaintiffs’ general allegation that the merger may cause ‘higher prices, less innovation, less creativity, less consumer choice, decreased output, and other potential anticompetitive effects’ is insufficient,” wrote U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Corley. “Why? How?”…