US District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín issued a decision Thursday extending her temporary restraining order to a total of 28 days, report The Wrap and Variety. The mega media merger is paused for now due to lawsuits by a group of state AGs and the Writers’ Guild of America, as the judge plans to “hear the two motions for preliminary injunction on the same schedule” and has scheduled a hearing for August 3rd. Disclosure: The Verge’s editorial staff is also unionized with the Writers Guild of America, East. [Link: Warner Bros. mergers never work, but they’re trying again anyway | https://www.theverge.com/entertainment/807438/warner-bros-discovery-history-of-mergers-paramount-apple-netflix-amazon | The Verge]

Twelve states sued Paramount over the deal, arguing it was unlawful and would “create a media behemoth" that would damage both audiences and the industry in general.

A federal judge temporarily halted Paramount Skydance's $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros

Paramount is attempting to acquire Warner Bros. for $111 billion