Microsoft Corp.'s bid to buy Activision Blizzard Inc. has been temporarily blocked by a judge in California as the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) attempts to stop the deal from going through. The judge imposed a temporary restraining order, arguing it is "necessary to maintain the status quo while the complaint is pending."
The FTC is waiting for a decision by an internal administrative law judge, due in August. In the meantime, it filed for a temporary stay of the acquisition, warning it would otherwise be likely to complete by the end of the week. The tech companies can submit their argument against the preliminary injunction by June 16, ahead of hearings on June 22.