Paramount/WBD merger conditions give the public "virtually nothing," judge is told
US judge reviews deal with California, says it must not be result of collusion.
Free speech and media advocacy groups have urged a judge to block a proposed settlement between Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. Discovery. The coalition of organizations, including the Committee for the First Amendment, Free Press, and Freedom of the Press Foundation, argue that the deal offers little benefit to Californians who previously sued to prevent the merger.
The twelve states, led by California, filed a lawsuit in July, claiming the combined entity would significantly reduce competition and violate antitrust laws. Despite a preliminary ruling by US District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín that the merger could harm competition, Paramount and Warner Bros. later reached a settlement with the involved states. The judge will now decide whether to approve the agreement.
Written by urgent.news from Ars Technica's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
