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

The Oregon attorney general’s office on Friday withdrew its court motion seeking to delay Paramount’s proposed $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. The move marks a shift in the state's legal strategy but does not end its scrutiny of the landmark media deal.

A Shift in Legal Tactics

The Oregon Department of Justice said in a statement to Reuters that it withdrew the motion because of Paramount's alleged refusal to cooperate. "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 department stated.

The statement added, "We’re not going to let them waste Oregonians’ resources on these games. We’ve withdrawn the motion to consider our next steps." This suggests the state may pursue other avenues to challenge the merger.

Context of the Dispute

Earlier in the week, Attorney General Dan Rayfield's office had asked a Multnomah County court to compel Paramount to produce records and delay the transaction by 60 days for review. The state was seeking documents related to Paramount's internal efforts to gain regulatory approval, code-named "Project Warrior," and its lobbying of the Trump administration.

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In response to the withdrawal, a Paramount spokesperson told Reuters, "We are pleased that the Oregon Attorney General has withdrawn its motion to delay this transaction." The company described the proposed merger as "lawful" and "pro-competitive." According to the source, Paramount had previously agreed not to close the transaction before July 22 amid the state's review.

Broader Antitrust Scrutiny

The proposed deal, which would combine two of Hollywood's four major studios, continues to face significant opposition. Actors, writers, and other industry professionals have raised concerns about potential job losses and reduced competition.

While Oregon has pulled back its immediate legal challenge, the merger's regulatory path remains uncertain. Reuters has reported that other U.S. states are also investigating the acquisition over competition concerns and could file lawsuits to block the deal as soon as next week.