"According to Nikkei, those requests relate to the way Microsoft licenses its software to run on clouds other than its own Azure service. In other parts of the world, Microsoft has offered deep discounts for its own software - especially Windows Server and SQL Server - when users deploy it on Azure but effectively charges more to run it in rivals' clouds."
"Those practices earned the company critical attention from regulators in the UK, Europe, and the USA. Microsoft changed its ways in Europe, but not enough for Google which continues to press for further changes. The matter remains unresolved in the UK and USA."
"Japan's Fair Trade Commission has form going after Big Tech companies, recently following other nations by requiring Apple and Google to open their app stores to third parties, and also tackling Google for forcing makers of Android handsets to include its apps."
Japan's Fair Trade Commission is conducting an antitrust probe into Microsoft's software licensing practices, specifically examining how the company prices its software for deployment on cloud services other than Azure. Microsoft has stated it is fully cooperating with the investigation. The probe follows similar regulatory scrutiny in Europe, the UK, and the USA regarding Microsoft's practice of offering deep discounts for Windows Server and SQL Server on Azure while charging higher rates for competing cloud platforms. Microsoft made changes to address European concerns, though disputes remain unresolved in other jurisdictions. Japan's Fair Trade Commission has demonstrated increased enforcement activity against major technology companies, recently targeting Apple and Google regarding app store practices.
#antitrust-investigation #cloud-computing-licensing #microsoft-pricing-practices #technology-regulation #fair-trade-commission
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