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Windows Central
Windows Central
Technology
Jez Corden

A CMA director, who blocked Microsoft's Xbox-Activision merger, previously worked for a Sony law firm (Update)

CMA Microsoft Sony Xbox Activision United Kingdom Florian Mueller PlayStation Google ABK
CMA UK

What you need to know

  • The UK regulator, known as the CMA, blocked Activision-Blizzard's merger with Xbox. 
  • Activision is known for World of Warcraft, Candy Crush, and Call of Duty, and the deal has been protested by Sony, Google, among others. 
  • Despite protests from some of Microsoft's larger competitors, the vast majority of the gaming industry have been supportive of the deal, given that Microsoft wants to add its games to competing cloud services. 
  • Today, Florian Mueller who is a prominent patent lawyer following the case discovered that the UK regulator's senior director used to work for a firm that is actively representing Sony, potentially highlighting a conflict of interest, and a degradation of impartiality. 
  • Update: Mueller has since claimed that said senior director was a central voice in getting the ABK deal blocked. 
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