After European cloud vendors filed a formal complaint with the European Commission in 2022, Microsoft is reportedly seeking to reach an agreement before an investigation is launched. Credit: Bigstock Microsoft has reportedly agreed to change its cloud computing practices in order to avoid an antitrust probe from the European Commission, the EU’s antitrust authority. The potential probe relates to complaints made by European cloud companies including Aruba, OVHcloud, Danish Cloud Community and the Association of Cloud Infrastructure Service Providers (CISPE) about changes Microsoft first made to the terms of its outsourcing license agreement in 2019, and then modified again in 2022. The cloud vendors raised concerns after their customers were asked to pay more to run Microsoft software in non-Microsoft cloud environments, under what they saw as restrictive cloud licensing policies. As a result of these licensing changes, on November 9, 2022, CISPE filed a formal complaint with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Competition (DG Comp) stating: “Microsoft uses its dominance in productivity software to direct European customers to its own Azure cloud infrastructure to the detriment of European cloud infrastructure providers and users of IT services.” Now, in order to avoid another antitrust probe by the EU Commission, Microsoft has offered to change its cloud computing practices to settle antitrust complaints filed by smaller rivals, a person with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. The European Commission refused to comment on the news, while Aruba, CISPE, the Danish Cloud Community, and OVHcloud did not respond to requests for comment. CISPE plans to pursue its complaint. A spokesperson for CISPE told Reuters, “We’ve had an initial discussion with Microsoft, but have not seen anything that suggests changes that will ensure that all European customers have the chance to run the software they want in the cloud of their choice free of unfair licence terms or discriminatory pricing.” A Microsoft spokesperson would not discuss with Computerworld whether a deal had been reached with any of the complainants. “In October 2022, we introduced changes to our licensing practices that address the feedback that we heard from European cloud providers. We are grateful for the productive conversations that led us there and appreciate the feedback that we have received since. We are committed to the European Cloud Community and their success,” the Microsoft spokesperson said. Microsoft is no stranger to the EU Commission’s antitrust rulings. In 2004 the company paid a $611 million fine after it was found it guilty of illegally bundling media player software with Windows XP. An additional $731 million fine was levelled against the company in 2013 for bundling its Internet Explorer browser with Windows 7. Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of games studio Activision Blizzard is also currently under scrutiny by the EU Commission, as well as the Competition Market Authorities (CMA) in the UK and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the US. Related content news analysis Google can’t seem to quit cookies, delays killing them again Google cited regulatory challenges in its oft-delayed plans to phase out third-party cookies from its Chromium products. It now plans to eliminate cookies in 2025 By Lucas Mearian Apr 25, 2024 5 mins Chrome Browser Security Chrome OS news Apple reportedly cuts Vision Pro production due to low demand Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims Apple is putting the brakes on production of the spatial computing headset due to low demand; the Vision Pro launched in the US earlier this year. By Matthew Finnegan Apr 25, 2024 4 mins Augmented Reality Apple Virtual Reality feature Windows 11: A guide to the updates Here’s what you need to know about the latest updates to Windows 11 as they’re released from Microsoft. Now updated for KB506980 Preview, released on April 23, 2024. By Preston Gralla Apr 25, 2024 59 mins Small and Medium Business Windows 11 Windows feature Windows 10: A guide to the updates Here's what you need to know about each update to the current version of Windows 10 as it's released from Microsoft. Now updated for KB5036979 Preview, released on April 23, 2024. By Preston Gralla Apr 25, 2024 172 mins Small and Medium Business Windows 10 Microsoft Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe