Paramount Skydance has accused streaming giant Netflix of waging an aggressive campaign against its proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), alleging that it is attempting to influence regulators and stakeholders.

In a June 5 letter addressed to the US Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division, Paramount's chief legal officer Makan Delrahim accused Netflix of maintaining a 'scorched-earth campaign' to ‘poison’ support for the merger. The letter claims that Netflix is trying to convince regulators and other stakeholders against the proposed acquisition.

The accusation comes in response to a March letter from The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which had urged the DOJ to block the merger unless substantial safeguards were put in place to protect film and TV workers' jobs. Paramount countered by stating that the merger would not reduce work opportunities for union members but instead increase content production and offer more roles across various creative and technical fields.

Delrahim’s response highlights the intense competitive environment within the entertainment industry, where tech giants like Netflix are seen as significant threats to established players attempting large mergers. The legal battle reflects the broader struggle between traditional media conglomerates and digital streaming services for dominance in the global entertainment market.