Microsoft faces UK lawsuit over cloud computing licences
Microsoft in 2020 launched new licence charges for operating its software program on main cloud suppliers [File]
| Picture Credit score: REUTERS
Microsoft faces authorized motion in Britain over a declare that 1000’s of companies utilizing cloud computing providers offered by Amazon, Google and Alibaba might be paying increased licence charges to make use of Home windows Server software program.
Competitors lawyer Maria Luisa Stasi filed a case on the Competitors Attraction Tribunal on Tuesday, claiming that British companies and organisations may collectively be owed greater than 1 billion kilos ($1.27 billion) in compensation.
“Put merely, Microsoft is punishing UK companies and organisations for utilizing Google, Amazon and Alibaba for cloud computing by forcing them to pay more cash for Home windows Server,” she stated.
“By doing so, Microsoft is making an attempt to drive clients into utilizing its cloud computing service Azure and proscribing competitors within the sector.”
Individually, Britain’s competitors regulator is investigating cloud computing, a market dominated by Amazon’s AWS, Microsoft’s Azure and, to a lesser extent, Google Cloud Platform.
Microsoft’s licensing practises, for instance for its Home windows Server and Microsoft 365 merchandise, are a part of its inquiry.
It is because of replace on its investigation imminently.
Microsoft in 2020 launched new licence charges for operating its software program on main cloud suppliers.
The declare alleges it then used the charges to induce clients to make use of its Azure platform.
Information from the Competitors and Markets Authority printed in Could confirmed Microsoft was successful clients at a considerably increased fee than different cloud suppliers because it made the licensing change.
America Federal Commerce Fee final week opened a broad antitrust investigation into Microsoft, together with its cloud computing enterprise, in keeping with a supply accustomed to the matter.
The FTC is inspecting allegations the software program big was probably abusing its market energy in productiveness software program by imposing punitive licensing phrases to stop clients from transferring from Azure to aggressive platforms, sources stated final month.
Revealed – December 04, 2024 08:33 am IST