Activision Blizzard Settles Lawsuit With US Government Over Anticompetitive Esports Concerns
The US Department of Justice filed a civil antitrust lawsuit against the Call of Duty company, claiming Activision Blizzard made rules for Overwatch and Call of Duty esports leagues and players that were anticompetitive. The DOJ claims Activision Blizzard is violating the Sherman Act.
For its part, Activision Blizzard tells GameSpot that it does not believe it broke the law, and it appears the case has been settled on the same day it was filed. This was the second major lawsuit involving the US government involving Activision Blizzard pending currently, as Microsoft is being sued by the FTC over its planned purchase of the company.
The DOJ’s complaint claimed that Activision Blizzard used a “Competitive Balance Tax” in the Call of Duty League and the Overwatch League. The DO…