Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg will testify in a lawsuit filed by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) believes that Meta’s acquisition of VR company, Within Unlimited, should be blocked to prevent monopoly. In a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, the FTC listed 18 witnesses it plans to question, including Zuckerberg and Within Unlimited CEO Chris Milk. He will also question Meta’s CTO, Andrew Bosworth. They were also on the witness lists filed Friday by the defendants, Meta and Within Unlimited.
Gizchina News of the week
In addition to the purchase protection of Within Unlimited, Zuckerberg will be asked about Meta’s business strategy for VR. They’ll also ask about the company’s plans to support third-party developers. Meta agreed to acquire Within Unlimited in October 2021 for an undisclosed sum. The FTC filed a lawsuit in July of that year, alleging that Meta’s acquisition of Within Unlimited was “likely to create a monopoly in the VR fitness app market.” The agency said the proposed deal would “significantly lessen competition or tend to create a monopoly in this market.”
Meta claims the purchase of a VR company is legal
Meta argued in court filings Friday… “Neither behaviorally nor organizationally, the FTC’s conclusions are speculative. His contradictory statements are not convincing, let alone prove any evidence...”
Under Zuckerberg’s leadership, Meta acquired headset maker Oculus VR in 2014. It began shifting its focus to VR. Meta’s VR headsets have since become a cornerstone of its growth in VR, the FTC lawsuit says. Powered by the Quest VR headset, Meta’s Quest Store has become the leading platform for VR apps in the US. There are over 400 apps available for download.
The FTC also claims this Meta acquired seven of the most successful VR technology development studios. It now has one of the largest catalogs of VR content in the world. Meta has acquired studio Beat Games, giving it control of the popular Beat Saber app.
