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

The Oregon attorney general’s office on Friday withdrew its court motion to delay Paramount's proposed $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros., a significant turn in the state-level scrutiny of the media mega-merger. The state agency accused Paramount of failing to cooperate with its investigative demands.

Oregon Accuses Paramount of Non-Compliance

The Oregon Department of Justice stated it was pulling the motion because Paramount allegedly refused to comply with an investigative demand, according to a statement provided to Reuters. The department accused the company of thinking it is "above the law" and of wasting state resources.

"We’ve withdrawn the motion to consider our next steps," the department said, signaling that its review of the deal is not necessarily over. The move reverses a request made earlier this week to a court in Multnomah County for a 60-day delay to review company records.

Context of the Investigation

Oregon's probe sought documents related to Paramount's internal efforts to secure regulatory approval, code-named "Project Warrior." The state was also seeking records connected to the company's lobbying of the Trump administration for support of the merger.

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Amid the state's review, Paramount had previously agreed not to finalize the transaction before July 22. In response to the motion's withdrawal, a Paramount spokesperson told Reuters, "We are pleased that the Oregon Attorney General has withdrawn its motion to delay this transaction," reiterating the company's view that the merger is "lawful" and "pro-competitive."

Broader Regulatory Hurdles Remain

While the withdrawal of Oregon's motion removes one immediate obstacle, the deal continues to face significant opposition. The proposed combination of two of Hollywood's four major studios has drawn sharp criticism from industry groups, including actors and writers, who fear widespread job losses and reduced competition.

Other U.S. states are also scrutinizing the acquisition over antitrust concerns. According to a previous Reuters report, a multi-state lawsuit to block the transaction could be filed as early as next week, indicating that the path to closing the deal remains fraught with regulatory challenges.