A U.S. federal judge on Tuesday issued a temporary block of Microsoft's $68.7B

 

A U.S. federal judge on Tuesday issued a temporary block of Microsoft's $68.7B acquisition of Activision Blizzard.  The ruling is in response to a request from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for a longer-term injunction, which the court will consider at a hearing later this month. Tuesday's order prevents the companies from finalizing the deal while awaiting a decision on the FTC's request for a preliminary injunction. The FTC says that a lengthier pause is needed to prevent harm and determine if the merger violates antitrust laws. The agency argues that Microsoft gaining control of Activision's content could harm competition. The buyout has also faced opposition from U.K. competition regulators, with Microsoft recently appealing a decision to block the deal. Despite facing the FTC's lawsuit, both Microsoft and Activision Blizzard said they are optimistic about the merger and believe that the injunction request will actually accelerate the legal process. "We welcome the opportunity to present our case in federal court," Microsoft president Brad Smith said.