Oregon's Department of Justice announced on Friday that it has pulled back a court filing that aimed to postpone Paramount's planned $110 billion takeover of Warner Bros.
In a statement to Reuters, the Oregon office said Paramount had signaled it would not comply with an investigative demand and that the company appeared to consider itself above the law, with the department adding: "We’re not going to let them waste Oregonians’ resources on these games." The office also said: "We’ve withdrawn the motion to consider our next steps."
Earlier in the week, the Oregon attorney general's office had asked a Multnomah County court to order Paramount to hand over records and to push back the closing of the proposed deal by 60 days so the state could examine those materials. At that time, Oregon said Paramount agreed not to close the transaction before July 22 while the state conducted its review.
The documents Oregon has sought reportedly include material connected to "Project Warrior," the internal code name Paramount used for efforts to secure regulatory approval, and records related to the company's lobbying activities directed at the Trump administration in support of the merger.
A Paramount spokesperson responded that the company was "pleased that the Oregon Attorney General has withdrawn its motion to delay this transaction," and described the merger as "lawful" and "pro-competitive."
The proposed combination would bring together two of Hollywood's four major studios. The transaction has drawn criticism from some actors, writers and others in the entertainment industry who have voiced fears that the merger could lead to job losses. Separately, the deal remains under scrutiny by other U.S. states, some of which could initiate lawsuits to try to block the acquisition as early as next week over competition concerns.
Oregon's withdrawal of the motion leaves open the state's broader investigative posture: the office has paused the court action for now while it evaluates next steps. The state’s earlier request for an extension and records focused on internal planning and external lobbying underscores the regulators' interest in the mechanics and political outreach behind large media mergers.
Paramount's insistence that the transaction is lawful and pro-competitive contrasts with vocal concerns from industry stakeholders and the continuing scrutiny from multiple state authorities. How other states proceed and whether additional legal challenges emerge will determine the immediate regulatory landscape for the proposed deal.