Google Files Complaint To The European Commission Against Microsoft Over Cloud Anti-Competitive Licensing Practices

Google has complained to the European Commission (EC), contending that Microsoft coerces businesses to continue using its Azure cloud infrastructure through anti-competitive licensing practices.

Google Cloud vice president Amit Zavery confirmed this in a blog post co-signed by Google Cloud’s Europe region president Tara Brady.

The complaint is over a 2019 licensing change that makes it more expensive to use Windows Server software on competing clouds.

That shift caused the European non-profit trade group Cloud Infrastructure Services Providers in Europe (CISPE) to launch an antitrust complaint with the European Commission (EC) in 2022.

Microsoft reportedly paid $22 million in settlement in July. It promised that running Windows Server will become easier for CISPE members at prices comparable to Azure.

“Microsoft’s licensing terms restrict European customers from moving their current Microsoft workloads to competitors’ clouds –- despite there being no technical barriers to doing so,” said Zavery.

A representative for the European Commission, the EU’s antitrust authority, confirmed receipt of the complaint, adding that “We will assess under our standard procedures”.

The complaint was filed on Tuesday.

According to a Microsoft representative, the corporation “settled amicably similar concerns raised by European cloud providers, even after Google hoped they would keep litigating”.

At a news conference, Zavery stated that Google wanted restrictions eliminated so that consumers could use their preferred cloud platform.

“We believe this regulatory action is the only way to end Microsoft vendor lock-in and for customers to have a choice and create a level playing field for competitors,” Zavery said.

We earlier reported Google has successfully contested a $1.66 billion antitrust fine assessed five years ago by the European Commission.

The €1.49 billion fine, which Google has appealed, was imposed after the European Commission determined that the internet giant’s search ad brokering business breached competition rules between 2006 and 2016 to maintain a dominating position.