© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Microsoft logo is seen on a smartphone placed on displayed Activision Blizzard logo in this illustration taken January 18, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Federal Trade Commission asked a federal court on Thursday for a stay that would prevent Microsoft (NASDAQ:) from closing its $69 billion purchase of “Call of Duty” maker Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ:).
A federal judge had ruled for Microsoft on Tuesday, saying that the agency had failed to show that the deal would be illegal under antitrust law. The FTC appealed that loss late on Wednesday, and Microsoft has said it would fight that appeal.
