US Edition
Published • loading... • Updated
Microsoft Hit with UK Competition Regulator Probe over Software Business
The probe could let the regulator impose conduct rules as it weighs whether Microsoft’s licensing limits competition for hundreds of thousands of UK users.
- On Tuesday, the UK Competition and Markets Authority announced a Strategic Market Status investigation into Microsoft's business software ecosystem, commencing in May to address licensing concerns.
- A July 2025 inquiry found Microsoft and Amazon each held up to 40% of UK cloud spend, with licensing practices identified as harming competition. Both firms recently took steps to reduce egress fees, yet the CMA says further action remains necessary.
- The investigation spans Windows, Word, Excel, Teams, and Copilot, used by hundreds of thousands of UK businesses and public sector organizations. The probe could take up to nine months, potentially enabling the CMA to impose conduct requirements.
- Nicky Stewart, senior advisor to the Open Cloud Coalition, welcomed the probe and urged "swift action" if Microsoft and Amazon fail to meet commitments. Some industry observers raised concerns that excluding Amazon from this investigation could create regulatory imbalance.
- CMA CEO Sarah Cardell stated the designation would "ensure a level playing field as AI is rapidly embedded into everyday business software tools." Parallel investigations in Brazil and Japan signal growing international scrutiny of Microsoft's corporate software practices.
Insights by Ground AI
31 Articles
31 Articles
The UK's antitrust regulator is looking into Microsoft's possible monopoly power
The UK's Competition and Markets Authority is once more turning its lens on Microsoft. The tech company will be the focus of an investigation by the regulator to see if it can be assigned strategic market status (SMS). The CMA already has "a major concern" with Microsoft's alleged limiting of competition in the cloud space via productivity software like Word and Excel, chat app Teams, AI companion Copilot and even Windows itself. The SMS designa…
·United States
Read Full Article
Competition Authority and United Kingdom Markets start antitrust research to evaluate regulation on products such as Word, Excel and the Copilt artificial intelligence application
·Brazil
Read Full Article
Coverage Details
Total News Sources31
Leaning Left6Leaning Right5Center8Last UpdatedBias Distribution42% Center
Bias Distribution
- 42% of the sources are Center
42% Center
L 32%
C 42%
R 26%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
