The investigation pursuant to the $1 billion deal between Microsoft and OpenAI was dropped by the Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority (‘CMA’), noting that Microsoft does not exercise the level of control over OpenAI that would require any scrutiny. The decision comes after CMA observed that while Microsoft has acquired “material influence” over OpenAI, it has not gained “de facto control” over it and therefore, the partnership does not meet the requirement for review under UK’s merger control regulations.
