FTC Grants Microsoft Access to Sony Documents for Activision Blizzard Trial

The US Federal Trade Commission has ruled on Sony's objections to Microsoft's subpoena for internal documents, granting some requests while denying others. As a result, Sony must share various documents with Microsoft, including exclusivity deals from 2019 onwards, to aid in the Xbox firm's defense against the FTC's complaint over the proposed Activision Blizzard acquisition. The ruling allows Microsoft to access key information about Sony's PlayStation business, which will help address concerns over the potential impact on competition in the video game industry. Microsoft had requested a range of documents, including content licensing agreements and performance reviews of Sony executives. However, the FTC limited the scope of the search to contracts signed from 2019 onwards and excluded evaluations of Jim Ryan and other executives, citing employee privacy concerns. The trial is set to begin on August 2, and the ruling is a significant development in the ongoing saga over the proposed acquisition.