Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

BourbonCoug t1_j140znp wrote

Reply to comment by mf-TOM-HANK in Microsoft-Activision deal: Gamers sue to stop merger by marketrent

>That actually has major real-life consequences.

Just playing devil's advocate here, but if you don't view this as having real-life consequences then why waste taxpayer dollars trying to stop this under the guise of antitrust?

36

mf-TOM-HANK t1_j143k75 wrote

It's a little bit of a dog and pony show to show us plebes that antitrust is still taken seriously in DC. If we were actually serious about antitrust we'd see the relevant federal agencies go after meat processing, media conglomerates, and ISPs for starters.

56

Thebadmamajama t1_j14eo9u wrote

I sense it's easier to block a future acquisition than to sue to break up an existing company.

Otherwise the cases in those other industries seem to be far clearer.

4

platonicjesus t1_j1519cc wrote

They let the Warner Discovery merger go through pretty recently.

10

Fubarp t1_j14nt5i wrote

Honestly I'm not sure if sueing to break up is hard because the US Government has done it numerous times without failure.

2

Milksteak_To_Go t1_j16byz3 wrote

What was the last breakup, Ma Bell in 1982? 40 years ago is not exactly recent history.

I know DOJ tried to break up Microsoft in 2000 over the IE/Netscape stuff but that got appealed and overturned.

3

ThatGuyMiles t1_j14i177 wrote

That’s the point, it’s a “show” they can’t or won’t stop other actual consequential mergers due to lobbyist/etcetera. This scenario makes it seem like they have “teeth” and are actually “sticking it to big tech” when it reality they are not and are completely toothless. It’s a gaming company and MICROSOFT. it’s the perfect Unicorn that no one important enough cares about so they get to look “tough” on “big tech”….

7

BatForge_Alex t1_j14hey5 wrote

> why waste taxpayer dollars trying to stop this under the guise of antitrust?

Regardless of which "side" you're on, I believe it's important for investigations like this to get the real face of the corporations out for the public to see. Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo have a history of doing some shady, anti-competitive shit.

If we don't at least investigate these sorts of deals, the public only hears what the companies want them to hear. These companies didn't become massive by "playing fair" and they're very good at laundering bad reputations

My opinion: Microsoft deserves the level of scrutiny being laid against them. They have a history of using M&A as a cudgel to force industries to kiss the ring and crush competition

3