Lawyers for several states are finalizing an antitrust lawsuit challenging Paramount’s pending acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, according to people involved in the legal process.
Background
The multistate suit will likely be filed next week, though the filing date is subject to change. If the suit is filed, it could disrupt Paramount’s plan to take control of Warner later this summer.
The Justice Department cleared Paramount’s acquisition of WBD last month amid criticism of the Trump administration’s close ties with the company. Federal clearance doesn’t bar state attorneys from bringing their own antitrust claims.
Critics who have urged state attorneys general to sue have argued that the deal would harm competition across the entertainment and news industries, a charge Paramount has denied.
State-level officials have been probing Paramount’s lobbying of the Trump administration, among other matters. In response to questions about a likely lawsuit by a coalition of states, a Paramount spokesperson said, ‘We continue to engage constructively with regulators, including State Attorneys General, and are prepared to address any legitimate antitrust issues. We are confident this transaction raises no such concerns.’
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
