Microsoft’s cloud business targeted by EU antitrust regulators

Typical see of Microsoft Company headquarters at Issy-les-Moulineaux, in close proximity to Paris, France, April 18, 2016. REUTERS/Charles Platiau/File Image

BRUSSELS, April 1 (Reuters) – EU antitrust regulators are quizzing Microsoft’s (MSFT.O) rivals and prospects about its cloud business and licensing discounts, a questionnaire observed by Reuters showed, in a transfer that could lead to a formal investigation and renewed scrutiny of the U.S. software package business.

The European Commission has fined Microsoft a total 1.6 billion euros ($1.8 billion) in the past ten years for breaching EU antitrust policies and for not complying with its order to halt anti-competitive techniques.

The enterprise located itself on the EU levels of competition enforcer’s radar once more following German computer software company NextCloud, France’s OVHcloud (OVH.PA) and two other providers filed complaints about Microsoft’s cloud methods.

“The Fee has info that Microsoft may be using its most likely dominant position in specified computer software marketplaces to foreclose opposition pertaining to particular cloud computing companies,” the questionnaire mentioned.

Regulators asked if the terms in Microsoft’s licensing deals with cloud support suppliers allow rivals to contend correctly.

They also want to know if organizations needed Microsoft’s working devices and efficiency purposes to complement their very own cloud infrastructure giving in purchase to compete proficiently.

Businesses also had been questioned about the dissimilarities in license fees and professional phrases among the licensing bargains with cloud service vendors and one more programme in which they deal and indirectly resell Microsoft’s cloud solutions alongside one another with their personal.

Another aim was prospective technological limits on cloud storage companies obtainable on companies’ cloud infrastructure.

“We’re constantly analyzing how we can greatest assistance associates and make Microsoft computer software readily available to shoppers across all environments, such as those of other cloud vendors,” Microsoft stated in an emailed statement.

EU antitrust main Margrethe Vestager previously this 7 days said she has no concerns nevertheless about cloud computing and cited the levels of competition from Europe’s Gaia-X initiative. go through additional

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