Google files suit against Microsoft in Brussels over cloud licensing practices

Google has filed an antitrust complaint with the European Commission against Microsoft for supposed anti-competitive practices in its cloud licensing system.

The complaint concerns Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform, which Google says is preventing European customers from move your workload to competing cloud systems.

Google claims that the platform blocks clients through Windows Server (central to Microsoft applications and services that imposes economic sanctions on companies who want to use other cloud providers), as well as security or interoperability obstacles.

It is not the first time that Microsoft is in the crosshairs of the EU antitrust body for alleged unfair practices in the cloud market.

In 2022, the cloud lobby CISPE (Cloud Infrastructure Services Providers in Europe), backed by Amazon, filed a complaint with the European Commission over Microsoft’s contractual conditions. The case was closed last July after reaching a 22 million euro agreement with CISPE.

Amazon – AWS – Microsoft and Google lead the cloud infrastructure market worldwide, and the battle between the “Big Three” is fierce.

Microsoft is also facing an antitrust investigation by the European Commission launched on July 27 last year into Teams, its product for communication and collaboration. If the dominant position is proven, the company will be able to sell its products to Microsoft.The company could face a fine of up to 10% of its annual revenue.

Microsoft has amicably resolved similar problems raised by other European cloud service providers, even after Google expected them to litigate further, a company spokesman said, adding: “Having failed to persuade European companies, we expect Google will similarly fail to persuade the European Commission.”