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Ryuu96 on 19 May 2023
Angelus said:
Ryuu96 said:

Now if Canada could approve it that'd be nice. If only Microsoft could force FTC to court...If they could do that before the CAT tribunal and win then that would put CMA in an even worse position but it looks unlikely. FTC is so shitty with these delay tactics, Lol. Know they won't beat Microsoft in court so just drag it out as long as possible until CMA wins then say "we did it!" even though they did nothing.

Should have put a big X over Russia, nobody cares about their approval.

I mean, couldn't MS still just close over them in the US within the next month or so and force the FTC's hand?

Based on what I've gathered from conversations with those who know more, they can't close the deal without CMA's approval, it's a written requirement in the contract, they can't close the deal on certain countries and not on others, it's all or nothing. They can remove CMA's approval requirement but would face massive fines from the UK. They can't spinoff Activision-Blizzard as an independent entity without CMA's say so and they can't get CMA's say so until it goes through CAT and back to CMA again where they once again negotiate concessions (behavioural or structural).

They can't force FTC's hand without first getting through CMA basically.

Last edited by Ryuu96 - on 19 May 2023

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VersusEvil on 19 May 2023

@Spade Here's your Bingo card coz @Ryuu96 was too lazy to do it. 



Ride The Chariot || Games Complete ‘24 Edition

Spade on 19 May 2023
VersusEvil said:

@Spade Here's your Bingo card coz @Ryuu96 was too lazy to do it. 

Greatly appreciate this bruh lmao. 

Chai at the end of the bazooka with that face, Jim ryan, and ryuu's avy in the trash for ESO  

Edit: Yes Ryuu, I can edit... STAY MAD KID. 

Last edited by Spade - on 19 May 2023

https://www.trueachievements.com/gamercards/SliferCynDelta.png%5B/IMG%5D">https://www.trueachievements.com/gamer/SliferCynDelta"><img src="https://www.trueachievements.com/gamercards/SliferCynDelta.png

Ryuu96 on 19 May 2023


Barozi on 19 May 2023
Ryuu96 said:
Angelus said:

I mean, couldn't MS still just close over them in the US within the next month or so and force the FTC's hand?

Based on what I've gathered from conversations with those who know more, they can't close the deal without CMA's approval, it's a written requirement in the contract, they can't close the deal on certain countries and not on others, it's all or nothing. They can remove CMA's approval requirement but would face massive fines from the UK. They can't spinoff Activision-Blizzard as an independent entity without CMA's say so and they can't get CMA's say so until it goes through CAT and back to CMA again where they once again negotiate concessions (behavioural or structural).

They can't force FTC's hand without first getting through CMA basically.

Question is: would that fine be higher than what MS already has to pay to Activision when the deal doesn't succeed?

Wasn't that already a couple of billions?



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Ryuu96 on 19 May 2023
Barozi said:
Ryuu96 said:

Based on what I've gathered from conversations with those who know more, they can't close the deal without CMA's approval, it's a written requirement in the contract, they can't close the deal on certain countries and not on others, it's all or nothing. They can remove CMA's approval requirement but would face massive fines from the UK. They can't spinoff Activision-Blizzard as an independent entity without CMA's say so and they can't get CMA's say so until it goes through CAT and back to CMA again where they once again negotiate concessions (behavioural or structural).

They can't force FTC's hand without first getting through CMA basically.

Question is: would that fine be higher than what MS already has to pay to Activision when the deal doesn't succeed?

Wasn't that already a couple of billions?

Forgot how much exactly but when I saw someone post it in the Era thread it was a lot from what I remember, talking billions and it would be repeated fines until compliance. If Microsoft ignores the CMA and goes ahead then they would be fined by the UK and barred from operating and doing business in the UK at all, not just Activision-Blizzard/Xbox but the entire Microsoft business. CMA has the power to impose fines or bar companies from doing business if regulatory actions are ignored.



DroidKnight on 19 May 2023



...to avoid getting banned for inactivity, I may have to resort to comments that are of a lower overall quality and or beneath my moral standards.

Machiavellian on 19 May 2023
Ryuu96 said:
Barozi said:

Question is: would that fine be higher than what MS already has to pay to Activision when the deal doesn't succeed?

Wasn't that already a couple of billions?

Forgot how much exactly but when I saw someone post it in the Era thread it was a lot from what I remember, talking billions and it would be repeated fines until compliance. If Microsoft ignores the CMA and goes ahead then they would be fined by the UK and barred from operating and doing business in the UK at all, not just Activision-Blizzard/Xbox but the entire Microsoft business. CMA has the power to impose fines or bar companies from doing business if regulatory actions are ignored.

I feel sorry for you Ryuu, you are going to have to purchase a PS5 because MS is leaving the market.  Oh well, its not that bad on the Blue side of the street.



Ryuu96 on 19 May 2023

The Bill gives the CMA power to directly impose financial penalties – and there are lots of different types and tiers of penalties which the CMA can hand out to rogue retailers.  So many in fact, that the Government has published a table summarising all of the fines.

To pick-out just a few, there is a penalty for breaching consumer protection laws of up to £300,000 or, if higher, 10% of global turnover. Then there is a penalty of up to £150,000 or, if higher, up to 5% of a business’ global turnover for breaching undertakings given to the CMA.  

Consumer Law

New Penalties Imposable by the CMA and Civil Courts Under the Bill

Breach Penalty Imposable on Imposable by
Engaging in commercial practices breaching consumer protection laws Up to £300,000 or 10% of annual global turnover, whichever is higher. 1. Person committing the infringing practice 2. Any accessory to the infringing practice 3. Members of the corporate group of the person committing the infringing practice (where relevant conditions are met) 1. The civil courts 2.The CMA (for breaches of certain consumer laws)
Breaching without a reasonable excuse an administrative direction given by the CMA Up to £150,000 or 5% of annual global turnover, whichever is higher. An additional daily penalty of up to £15,000 or 5% of daily global turnover, whichever is higher, while non-compliance continues. 1. Person who was given and is found to have breached a direction 2. Members of the corporate group of the person committing the breach (where relevant conditions are met) The CMA

GOV.UK

This may be the law but I'm not sure which one would apply to Microsoft exactly. I don't know if ignoring the CMA counts as ignoring a consumer law so I'm going with the last one. 5% of 200bn would be $10bn in fines plus additional daily penalties of 5% of Microsoft's daily revenue until they comply with the directive (I.E. You can't acquire ABK).

Last edited by Ryuu96 - on 19 May 2023

Barozi on 19 May 2023
Ryuu96 said:
Barozi said:

Question is: would that fine be higher than what MS already has to pay to Activision when the deal doesn't succeed?

Wasn't that already a couple of billions?

Forgot how much exactly but when I saw someone post it in the Era thread it was a lot from what I remember, talking billions and it would be repeated fines until compliance. If Microsoft ignores the CMA and goes ahead then they would be fined by the UK and barred from operating and doing business in the UK at all, not just Activision-Blizzard/Xbox but the entire Microsoft business. CMA has the power to impose fines or bar companies from doing business if regulatory actions are ignored.

If the UK is anything like Germany, any kind of public administration no matter if regional or governmental use Windows. There's no way the UK would deny Microsoft doing business there. It would hurt the UK at least as hard as Brexit.

No more Windows updates means any data stored on these PCs would be up for grabs. Russian and Chinese hackers would love that. As a result the UK would have to switch to other OS which would not only cost them billions but also completely paralyze the whole public sector for months if not longer in the process.