Policy · Updated 18 Oct, 10:33 am IST
UK regulator targets Microsoft for possible 'strategic market status' in business software
Why it matters for readers: It matters because regulators are examining whether bundled AI and software reduce customer choice and competition.
- The CMA proposed giving Microsoft a 'strategic market status' in business software, a step that could enable regulatory interventions.1
- The CMA launched an investigation in May into whether Microsoft’s strong position in operating systems, productivity, security, server and database software creates switching barriers for customers.1
- Regulators will probe whether customers can freely choose AI tools and whether rivals can compete with Microsoft’s Copilot assistant.1
- The CMA will also examine Microsoft’s bundling of security products and its licensing practices affecting customers’ cloud options.1
- A Microsoft spokesperson said the company does not share the CMA’s view and described its products, including Copilot, as open and interoperable.1
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