The case was brought by smaller music companies claiming the merger hurt competition, but the ruling also cast doubt on recent merger soundings between EMI and Warner Music.

• 这起官司由一些小型唱片公司挑起，他们声称兼并对竞争有害。然而这一裁决也让百代和华纳唱片关于合资的试探性接触遭受质疑。