Oregon Withdraws Motion to Delay $110 Billion Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger

The Oregon attorney general’s office has withdrawn a court motion aimed at delaying Paramount's proposed $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. The state agency accused Paramount of non-compliance with its investigation but signaled it is now considering its next course of action.

Oregon Cites Non-Compliance

The Oregon Department of Justice announced on Friday it had retracted its request, which was filed in a Multnomah County court to delay the transaction by 60 days. In a statement provided to Reuters, the department claimed Paramount was unwilling to cooperate with an investigative demand for records.

"Paramount made it clear that they weren’t going to comply with the investigative demand, and that they think they’re above the law," the Oregon DOJ stated. The agency added that it withdrew the motion to "consider our next steps" and avoid wasting state resources.

Background of the Dispute

The state's legal action sought to compel Paramount to turn over documents related to its internal efforts to secure regulatory approval. Oregon's investigation was focused on records concerning:

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• "Project Warrior," the internal code name for Paramount's regulatory clearance strategy.
• The company's efforts to lobby the Trump administration for support of the merger.

Amid the state's review, Paramount had previously agreed not to close the transaction before July 22, according to the attorney general's office.

Broader Regulatory Headwinds Remain

While this specific motion is withdrawn, the deal is not clear of regulatory hurdles. A Paramount spokesperson told Reuters the company was "pleased" with the decision and called the merger "lawful" and "pro-competitive."

However, the proposed combination of two of Hollywood's four major studios faces continued scrutiny. Other U.S. states could sue to block the acquisition as early as next week over competition concerns, Reuters has reported. The deal has also drawn sharp criticism from industry groups, including actors and writers, who fear significant job losses and reduced creative competition.