Warner Bros. Discovery has told shareholders to reject Paramount Skydance’s USD 108.4B hostile takeover and stick with its binding Netflix deal. This Part 3 update breaks down the board’s reasoning, the brewing fiduciary‑duty and antitrust fights, and the practical contract moves creators should make as Netflix, WBD, and Paramount battle for control of Hollywood’s most valuable IP.

Disney and OpenAI announced a three-year, $1 billion licensing deal that fundamentally redefines how IP holders negotiate with AI platforms. Starting in early 2026, the Sora video generation platform will host over 200 iconic characters from the Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars universes—allowing users to create sanctioned AI-generated content.

The $82.7 billion Netflix-WBD deal is no longer a definitive agreement. Paramount Skydance has launched a hostile tender offer for the entire company at $30.00 per share in all-cash, dramatically escalating the auction to an enterprise value of $108.4 billion. This aggressive maneuver immediately places the WBD Board in a fiduciary trap. Under M&A principles (such as the Revlon standard), the Board's duty shifts to maximizing shareholder value, forcing them to justify why the lower, stock-component Netflix offer is superior to a higher, all-cash bid. The decision hinges not only on price but on opposing antitrust...

The Netflix acquisition of Warner Bros.'s film and TV studios, including HBO and HBO Max, for an estimated $82.7 billion is not merely a corporate transaction; it's a structural shift that concentrates unprecedented power and IP under one roof. This deal eliminates a major buyer for new content, leading to market consolidation that directly impacts every creator's ability to negotiate favourable terms, compensation, and ownership. The size of this transaction immediately triggered intense scrutiny under anti-trust and competition law globally, with major…

Learn how Taylor Swift's fight for her music masters offers vital lessons in intellectual property, M&A, and contract law. The music industry, a vibrant tapestry of artistic expression and commercial enterprise, often becomes a battleground for ownership and control. Few sagas illustrate this struggle as vividly and publicly as that of Taylor Swift...