A US judge orders Paramount to temporarily pause its planned acquisition of Warner Bros., according to multiple reports. The court action suspends the companies’ efforts to close the deal, which is valued at about US$110 billion. The pause is set to last 14 days while the judge schedules or holds another hearing related to a preliminary injunction. The injunction request is aimed at preventing the transaction from proceeding during the interim period. During this period, Paramount and Warner Bros are prohibited from completing the acquisition in the United States until the next court proceeding. Several outlets report that the judge’s order is procedural and temporary, meaning it does not necessarily decide the ultimate merits of the injunction or the final fate of the merger. The companies are expected to continue responding to the court process, and the next hearing will determine what further actions, if any, follow from the preliminary injunction request.