違反反托拉斯法
Microsoft is gearing up for a fight against the US Federal Trade Commission over its blockage of the tech giant’s deal to take over Activision Blizzard.
微軟正準備對抗美國聯邦貿易委員會（FTC）阻止這家科技巨頭收購動視暴雪。
gear up for sth.準備好...blockage(n.)障礙物;堵塞;阻礙take over接管;收購(公司)
Microsoft’s $68.7 billion acquisition of the video game company, which is known for releasing the extremely popular “Call of Duty” franchise, has been flagged as illegal by US regulators who view it as a violation of antitrust laws.
微軟打算以687億美元收購動視暴雪，動視暴雪是一家電玩遊戲公司，其代表作為熱門度極高的《決勝時刻》系列，這起收購案遭美國監管機構警告違法，認為違反了反托拉斯法。
franchise(n.)(電影等)系列flag(v.)警告;提出(問題)antitrust(adj.)反托拉斯的;反壟斷的=anti-monopoly
According to the FTC lawsuit, “with control of Activision’s content, Microsoft would have the ability to…substantially lessen competition—including competition on product quality, price and innovation.”
根據FTC提起的訴訟，「透過控制動視暴雪的內容，微軟將有能力……大幅減少競爭——包括產品品質、價格和創新方面的競爭。」
substantially(adv.)大幅地=greatly=considerablylessen(v.)減少;降低=reduce
This is a bold move by the Biden administration, which has been directing efforts toward getting tough with Big Tech’s “anti-competitive behavior.”
這是拜登政府的一項大膽舉措，拜登政府一直積極對大型科技公司的「反競爭行為」採取強硬措施。
direct efforts toward…致力於get tough with對...採取強硬的態度
On Thursday, Microsoft filed a formal rebuttal to these claims by the FTC.
週四，微軟正式反駁了FTC的說辭。
file(v.)(正式)提出、申請file for bankruptcy申請破產file for divorce申請離婚rebuttal(n.)反駁;駁回;駁斥
The response downplays the strength of Microsoft’s Xbox gaming console in the market—saying it is in third place behind both Sony and Nintendo—as well as its presence in the mobile gaming market.
微軟的回應淡化了微軟Xbox遊戲機在市場上的實力——稱其僅次於索尼和任天堂，位居第三——以及它在手機遊戲市場的佔有率。
downplay(v.)對⋯⋯輕描淡寫、貶低、低估=play downconsole(n.)遊戲機presence(n.)存在;佔有率
Additionally, the response notes that the FTC’s assumption about Microsoft withholding “Call of Duty” from Xbox’s competing platforms is completely unfounded.
此外，微軟的回應指出，FTC假定微軟不讓《決勝時刻》在Xbox的競爭平台上架根本毫無根據。
assumption(n.)假定;推斷withhold(v.)拒絕給予;扣留unfounded(adj.)無事實根據的=not based or founded on fact
Led by high-profile corporate lawyer Beth Wilkinson, Microsoft’s legal team has signaled that it is prepared to fight in court, while also being open to finding “creative solutions with regulators that will protect competition, consumers, and workers in the tech sector.”
在知名公司律師貝絲·威爾金森的帶領下，微軟的法律團隊已表明準備在法庭上抗爭，同時也願意「與監管機構一起尋找創造性的解決方案，以保護科技業的競爭、消費者和從業人員。」
Led by…在…的領導下
If this is the case, it might have a similar end to the last time that Microsoft faced antitrust allegations in 2001 against illegally maintaining its monopoly position in the personal computer market, which resulted in the company winning their legal appeal but facing other penalties.
若是如此，其結局可能與上一次微軟在2001年因非法維持其在個人電腦市場的壟斷地位，而面臨反壟斷指控類似，當時微軟贏得了法律上訴，但面臨其他處罰。
allegation(n.)(未經證實的)指責;指控=accusationmonopoly(n.)壟斷、專賣、獨佔appeal(n.)上訴
In addition to the US blockage of the deal, Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard is currently under review by EU and UK investigators.
除了美國阻撓這起收購案外，微軟對動視暴雪的收購目前正在接受歐盟和英國調查人員的審查。
under review在審查中;在審核中
However, with Microsoft potentially losing both the deal and a $3 billion breakup fee to Activision Blizzard if they do not complete the merger by July 18, the tech giant is hoping that a solution can be reached as soon as possible.
然而，如果微軟不能在7月18日之前完成合併，可能會同時失去這筆交易，還須付30億美元的合約終止費給動視暴雪，因此微軟希望盡快找出解決方案。
breakup fee合約終止費merger(n.)合併(案)