Microsoft will be able to access Sony’s exclusivity agreements signed with third parties

March 3 (Portaltic/EP) –

Microsoft you will be able to know documents certifying Sony’s exclusivity agreements signed with third parties, as well as their business plans and other private documents, as recently decided by the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Since the announcement of the acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft, Sony and the maker of Xbox They are engaged in a legal battle in which, each one, intends to present the reasons why this purchase should be allowed (in the case of Microsoft) or why it would be dangerous to do so due to a possible monopoly in the ‘gaming’ industry, according to the PlayStation developer .

During these months, several international regulatory bodies and investigative organizations have been studying this case to determine the legitimacy of the purchase of the American video game developer. These include the UK Markets and Competition Authority (CMA), the European Commission (EC) and the FTC.

Microsoft, which has always defended that it will keep Activision Blizzard’s star video game, call of duty, available for the Sony platform, has urged the Japanese manufacturer to expose details about its business strategy to the authorities.

Specifically, Microsoft issued a subpoena to Sony to access documents related to seven executives of the Japanese company, as well as information about its ‘third-party’ exclusivity agreements.

The technology giant considers that, knowing the income and other details related to the video game business of its main competitor, it could be known how the purchase of Activision Blizzard would influence their part, which would have an impact on the resolution of the case.

Sony, for its part, rejected this request, alleging that it would be impossible for it to compile this information “given the high volume of documents” and that he guarded his right to keep his business strategy confidential, according to a document to which he had access Axios. In addition, Sony stressed in its response that Microsoft’s lawsuit was a “obvious bullying”.

In an Order on Motion filed by Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC, stating its objections to Microsoft’s demands, the court judge FTC Michael Chappell has agreed with Microsoft and has ruled that it will be able to access the exclusivity agreements of the Asian company since 2019 and to date with the aim of strengthen its position in the industry.

It should be remembered in this case that Microsoft requested access to confidential documents focused on Sony’s business strategy since 2012, which it considered “unjustified” as it was “minimally relevant to the case.” The judge has finally agreed with the Japanese company.

Also, in this resolution, Chappell grants Microsoft the freedom to know the communications between the CEO of Sony and the FTC, as well as those made by Sony’s antitrust lawyer, Greg McCurdy and third parties.