UK Court Denies Request to Postpone CMA and Microsoft Trial

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority has been denied its request to postpone the upcoming trial with Microsoft. The regulator had proposed pushing the trial to October, but the Competition Appeal Tribunal has confirmed that the proceedings will commence as scheduled on July 28. According to the tribunal, the case has significant implications for many parties involved and should proceed without delay. In a statement, the court noted that while the case is complex and involves a substantial amount of material, a month is ample time for the CMA to prepare, particularly with the support of its existing counsel team. The court stated, 'The matter is significant, but we anticipate that a month allows sufficient time for preparation, provided the CMA selects counsel with suitable availability.' The CMA had previously blocked Microsoft's proposed $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard in April and reaffirmed this decision in May. For further information, please refer to our comprehensive guide on the issues surrounding the proposed acquisition, or check out our updates from the Microsoft vs. FTC hearing.