Microsoft admits misconduct in the European cloud market

Following competition complaints against Microsoft, the US group is now giving in with new conditions. Among other things, greater flexibility in dealing with the licenses should be created.

Microsoft is apparently bowing to pressure from the European competition authorities: The US software group admitted that it had overrun smaller providers in the fight for dominance in the EU cloud market. The French hosting provider OVH had filed a complaint, accusing Microsoft of favoring its own cloud offerings through the license terms of its products. It is therefore often easier and cheaper for customers to combine Windows, Office and Windows Server with Microsoft’s Azure cloud products instead of with the hosting offers of smaller third-party providers.

Although such a practice was not admitted, Microsoft showed understanding with regard to the investigations of the EU Commission: At an event in Brussels, Microsoft President and chief lawyer Brad Smith stated that not all such allegations were correct , but there are definitely things that are actually true. Smith admitted that mistakes were made. One concentrated so much on the big competitors that the smaller competitors in the European market were “forgotten”.

Microsoft now wants to launch a new program that will make it easier for third-party companies to offer Microsoft products such as Windows or Office 365 in the cloud. Smith went on to state that Microsoft must do more and live up to its responsibilities. Among other things, greater flexibility in dealing with the licenses should be created. Microsoft admits misconduct in the European cloud market. 

Source: Bloomberg