US appeals court opens docket on FTC effort to overturn loss on Microsoft deal

FILE PHOTO: Logo of Microsoft is pictured on its office building in Beijing, China May 25, 2023. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A U.S. appeals court on the West Coast opened a docket on Thursday on the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's effort to overturn its loss trying to stop Microsoft from buying "Call of Duty" maker Activision.

A federal judge in California had ruled for Microsoft on Tuesday, saying the agency had failed to show the deal was illegal under antitrust law. The FTC said late on Wednesday that it would appeal that loss, and Microsoft has said it would fight that appeal.