Big Tech State AGs sue to block the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger A dozen attorneys general filed an antitrust lawsuit to stop the merger, which the Department of Justice approved in June. By Kris Holt Updated: July 13, 2026 1:38 pm EST Dmitry Kropachev/Unsplash A dozen state attorneys general have filed an antitrust lawsuit in a bid to prevent Paramount from taking over Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). The AGs — from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Washington — filed the suit a month after the Department of Justice greenlit the $110 billion merger . It was reported in early June that several states were planning an attempt to block the deal.
The suit was filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of California. The AGs allege that the merger would violate the Clayton Act by reducing competition among the distribution of wide-release theatrical films, distribution of anticipated top-grossing theatrical films and licensing of basic cable channels to distributors. While the suit claims "Paramount's proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. will likely harm competition in many lines of commerce," it doesn't explicitly focus on the potential impact on the streaming market.
Source: https://www.engadget.com/2213857/states-sue-to-block-paramount-warner-bros-discovery-merger/
The suit was filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of California. The AGs allege that the merger would violate the Clayton Act by reducing competition among the distribution of wide-release theatrical films, distribution of anticipated top-grossing theatrical films and licensing of basic cable channels to distributors. While the suit claims "Paramount's proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. will likely harm competition in many lines of commerce," it doesn't explicitly focus on the potential impact on the streaming market.
Source: https://www.engadget.com/2213857/states-sue-to-block-paramount-warner-bros-discovery-merger/