The FTC is reportedly preparing to investigate whether Microsoft has used anti-competitive methods to keep a stronghold in the cloud services market.
As reported by the Financial Times, the FTC is examining claims that Microsoft enforced strict licensing agreements to prevent customers from transferring their data to other platforms. Sources informed FT that the agency is also looking into allegations that Microsoft raised subscription costs for those trying to exit, made its software incompatible with competitors, and imposed significant exit fees.
Last year, the FTC invited public input on the business practices of large cloud providers. Many respondents pointed out concerns about restrictive software licenses, required minimum spending contracts, and costly data transfer fees as potential anti-competitive practices.
It remains uncertain how far the FTC’s investigation will go. With a possible transition in leadership, FTC chair Lina Khan's tenure could end if Donald Trump returns to office, as he is generally viewed as favoring deregulation.
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