What's happened
Microsoft has settled antitrust complaints with European cloud providers OVHcloud and CISPE, ending a two-year dispute over licensing practices. Google's attempt to derail the settlement with a $500 million offer to CISPE was unsuccessful. The agreements involve changes in Microsoft's practices and payments to the cloud providers.
What's behind the headline?
What the papers say
According to Politico, Microsoft reached an agreement with OVHcloud to drop the antitrust complaint, while Ars Technica reported on Google's failed attempt to derail the settlement with a $500 million offer to CISPE. The contrasting reports highlight the complex negotiations and financial stakes involved in resolving antitrust disputes in the tech industry.
How we got here
The dispute began when OVHcloud, Aruba, and Danish Cloud Community filed a complaint with the EU in 2022, accusing Microsoft of anti-competitive practices and high costs for running its software on rival cloud services. CISPE, backed by Amazon, also raised concerns about Microsoft's licensing practices, leading to a two-year row that culminated in the recent settlements.
Go deeper
- How will the settlements impact the cloud computing market in Europe?
- What changes in Microsoft's licensing practices are expected following the agreements?
- Are there any potential legal implications for other tech companies in light of these settlements?
Common question
More on these topics
-
CISPE is a non-profit trade association for infrastructure as a service cloud providers in Europe. It was started to aid IaaS providers in explaining their business model to policymakers.
Registered in early 2017, CISPE has been operating since 2015.
-
Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology company with headquarters in Redmond, Washington. It develops, manufactures, licenses, supports, and sells computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services.