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Disney and Fox have given data to the Justice
Department that is being used to build a case against AT&T's bid
to buy Time Warner Inc <TWX.N>. The companies say they fear that
executives with AT&T, which owns satellite TV provider DirecTV,
could inadvertently gain access to it during the trial.
The government sued last month to block the $85.4 billion
acquisition, saying the deal could lead to higher prices for
rivals and pay-TV subscribers while hampering the development of
online video. The trial is set to begin on March 19.
"The complex and competitive business relationships between Fox
and defendants that make Fox wary of disclosing sensitive
information in this lawsuit are nearly identical to those
between TWDC (the Walt Disney Co) and defendants," Disney said
in its request.
Disney licenses its content to cable television companies and
competes with Time Warner in creating content.
Judge Richard Leon, who is hearing the case at the U.S. District
Court for the District of Columbia, had given access to
confidential information to the court, Justice Department
lawyers and staff, service providers and AT&T and Time Warner's
outside counsel.
Disney said that it was making the same request made previously
by Fox.
Fox had asked for permission to withhold certain sensitive
information if it decided it was not relevant. It also wanted
AT&T and Time Warner to tell Fox who will access the information
and requested that any lawyer who handles the data be barred
from working on matters involving Fox without their consent for
two years.
(Reporting by Diane Bartz, editing by G Crosse)
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