Microsoft and Activision have bizarrely demanded to see PlayStation leadership’s employee files and performance reviews to fight a lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The U.S. regulator has sued to block the acquisition, following which Microsoft subpoenaed Sony and a number of other companies to help fight its case.
Sony terms irrelevant Microsoft and Activision demands “obvious harassment”
As spotted by Axios, Sony submitted its response to Microsoft’s requests, asking the court to quash or limit the subpoena. The redacted response can be found on FTC’s website, which reveals that Microsoft wants Sony to hand over PlayStation leadership’s employee files and performance reviews because they might “candidly” include information on the PlayStation business.
Sony has accused Microsoft of “obvious harassment,” arguing that personnel files have no relevance to the case. Sony’s motion to quash/limit the subpoena also reveals that Microsoft wants files pertaining to seven PlayStation executives including SIE CEO Jim Ryan, Head of PlayStation Studios Hermen Hulst, and Worldwide Marketing lead Eric Lempel.
Microsoft also wants files pertaining to previous PlayStation executives and wants a custodial search of SIE’s in-house lawyer. Taking things a step further, the Xbox maker has demanded decade-old information pertaining to PlayStation’s business.
