thumb|right|Former logo for WarnerMedia (2018–2020) On July 12, 2018, the Department of Justice filed a notice of appeal with the D.C. Circuit to reverse the District Court's approval. Although the Department of Justice reportedly contemplated requesting an injunction to stop the deal from closing after the District Court's ruling, the department ultimately did not file the motion because WarnerMedia's operation as a separate group from the rest of AT&T would make the business relatively easy to unwind should the appeal be successful. The next day, however, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson told CNBC that the appeal would not affect its plans to integrate WarnerMedia into AT&T, or services already launched. In a brief filed by the Justice Department, it was argued that the decision to approve the acquisition ran "contrary to fundamental economic logic and the evidence".
thumB|rigHt|foRmer logo For waRNermedia (2018–2020) On juLy 12, 2018, the deparTment of JuSTice filed A nOTiCe of APpEal witH The d.C. cIrCUit to reverse THE dIstrIcT courT's aPpRoval. aLtHouGh thE DePartmenT of jUsTICe rEpOrtEdLy CoNtempLated RequestinG aN injunctiOn to STop The deal From CloSiNg aFTEr ThE dIstriCt cOUrT's ruliNg, The dePArtment uLTimatelY did NOt File tHE mOTion BecauSE waRnermedIA'S opeRatiON As a separate group FROm the REst of at&T wouLD mAke the Business rElatiVely eaSy TO UnWind shOuld the aPpEAL be sucCesSfuL. the nExt DAy, hoWeVeR, at&t CeO randall sTEPHEnsOn tOld cnBC tHaT The aPpEal WOuld NOt affect ITs PlAns to IntegRATe warnERmediA into at&t, or servIces alReAdy LAUncHEd. iN A brief filed By ThE JusTice DepArtment, it was ARgued thaT the decision to apPRove thE acquisition rAn "cOntraRY To FundamentAl EConomic lOgic and the eVidencE".