Cross this out: July 22, 2024 briefing.

A tie-up between a pair of DJ equipment suppliers has collapsed amid antitrust scrutiny on opposite sides of the globe. The deal appeared to be on the rocks last Friday after failing to secure approval from the New Zealand Commerce Commission – and today the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority confirmed the parties have given up hope of finding the perfect match. Also in The Briefing, Meta vows to appeal a $220 million fine, and the European Commission agrees to a compromise in its second-ever investigation into a defamation exclusion.