Google files complaint against Microsoft over anti-competitive licensing practices

Google has lodged a complaint with the European Commission (EC) against Microsoft, alleging that the company engages in anti-competitive licensing practices to coerce businesses into using its Azure cloud infrastructure. The dispute centers around a 2019 licensing change that increased the cost of running Windows Server software on competing cloud platforms. This prompted the Cloud Infrastructure Services Providers in Europe (CISPE) to file an antitrust complaint with the EC, which led to a $22 million settlement in July 2022. Microsoft agreed to ease running Windows Server for CISPE members and align pricing more closely with Azure's rates.

However, this settlement excluded Google, one of Microsoft's primary cloud competitors alongside AWS, leading Google to take independent action. This complaint adds to Microsoft's ongoing antitrust issues in Europe, including allegations from June that it unfairly bundles Teams with other productivity apps.

Source: TechCrunch