Story perspectives

Iowa, Montana Ask Supreme Court to Block Paramount Merger

8/26/2026

Summary

Bird Challenges Merger

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird filed a Supreme Court petition challenging California’s lawsuit over the Paramount-Warner merger.
Iowa and Montana jointly moved the Court, citing a September 15 deadline before a $7 million-per-day fee begins.
Bird argues the deal would lower streaming costs for Iowans while releasing at least 30 movies annually with 90-day windows.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta said the states reject behavioral remedies such as the 30-movie pledge.

Summary

Bonta Cancels Talks

Attorney General Rob Bonta cancelled the settlement meeting after confidential talks were leaked to the press.
Bonta demanded Paramount stop leaking negotiation details.
Paramount denied being the leak source, saying it remains ready for good-faith discussions.
Bonta warned that without robust structural remedies the case will proceed to trial in March.
State leaders Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass urged Bonta to keep negotiations open despite the leak dispute.

History

Historical Context

After the Justice Department and 19 states sued Microsoft in 1998 for tying Internet Explorer to Windows, the D.C. Circuit partially reversed the district court’s monopoly ruling in 2001 and the parties settled that year, requiring API sharing and monitoring. Today Iowa AG Brenna Bird and California AG Rob Bonta invoke that precedent while challenging the Paramount-Warner merger, shaping future antitrust limits on media consolidation.

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Bird Challenges Merger

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird filed a Supreme Court petition challenging California’s lawsuit over the Paramount-Warner merger.
Iowa and Montana jointly moved the Court, citing a September 15 deadline before a $7 million-per-day fee begins.
Bird argues the deal would lower streaming costs for Iowans while releasing at least 30 movies annually with 90-day windows.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta said the states reject behavioral remedies such as the 30-movie pledge.

1 / 3