Free speech and media advocacy groups have urged a judge not to approve a California settlement that would allow Paramount Skydance to finalize its $111 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. Although a previous ruling by US District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín found that the merger could lead to reduced competition and antitrust violations, the state of California and other states involved in the lawsuit have now agreed to a deal that the groups claim will benefit the companies “virtually nothing” for the residents of the states that sued.

The coalition of groups pointed out that California Attorney General Rob Bonta publicly criticized the proposed merger conditions, such as Paramount’s commitment to releasing 30 movies a year, saying they are “typically not enforceable” and “not particularly good at solving the problem.”

The groups argue that the lawsuit, which was filed two months ago, alleged that the merger would “extinguish competition” between the two companies and lead to higher prices, lower quality, and reduced choice. However, the settlement leaves “that loss of independent decision-making largely intact,” according to the League of United Latin American Citizens.

With the judge now faced with deciding whether to approve the settlement, the focus is on whether the terms are truly beneficial for the states and their citizens, or if they are just a hollow compromise.