Microsoft Activision Deal Hearing to See Sony and Microsoft Spar

Sony and Microsoft are apparently set for a “courtroom style clash” at a hearing for the Microsoft Activision deal next week. Microsoft requested a hearing with the European Commission (EC) after the regulator formally objected to the acquisition.

Microsoft Activision deal hearing set for February 21st

First reported by FOSS Patents and later confirmed by Reuters, EC set a hearing for Tuesday, February 21st, after Microsoft filed a request to present oral arguments. According to Reuters, the Xbox maker is expected to offer remedies to the regulator in what it calls a “last-ditch effort” to get the deal approved.

Reuters stopped short of confirming whether Sony will be at the hearing or not but FOSS Patents has said that the company will be present and both parties are expected to have “a courtroom style clash.” Sony’s presence makes sense considering it’s the loudest and biggest opponent of the proposed acquisition.

It’s unclear if an Activision Blizzard representative will be present at the hearing or not.

One of Microsoft’s remedies is offering a 10-year Call of Duty contract to Sony. The U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority doesn’t seem convinced about this remedy, and has suggested to exclude Call of Duty from the acquisition.