Microsoft hit by new legal claim over restrictive licensing and overcharging allegations

Date:
Wed, 14 May 2025 15:01:00 +0000

Description:
Microsoft has been accused of unfair software licensing practices relating to Windows and Office subscriptions since 2015.

FULL STORY

Microsoft is facing a multibillion-pound legal claim in the UK over alleged anticompetitive behavior Redmond has been accused of unfair software
licensing practices, a complaint it's all-too familiar with given recent lawsuits and investigations.

The claim accuses the company of abusing its market dominance to restrict competition between new and pre-owned software licenses, inflating prices for both.

In the case of this particular lawsuit in the UK, the focus is on Microsoft Office and Windows licenses sold since October 1, 2015, therefore spanning a period of a decade.

Microsoft is in trouble in the UK over software licensing practices

Stewarts, a UK-based law firm, is leading the litigation, representing UK consumers, businesses and public sector bodies who purchased affected
licenses.

Heading the case, Kate Pollock explained (via The Register ): "Microsoft's conduct has had a profound and costly impact on millions of individuals and private and public sector organizations that rely on its software for daily business operations."

"This claim seeks to hold Microsoft to account and to secure compensation for the many affected members of the class. With billions of pounds potentially
at stake, this case is about ensuring fairness in the digital marketplace and ensuring even the largest tech companies play by the rules," Alex Wolfson,
the proposed class representative, added.

It's not the first time Microsoft has been in the news over anticompetitive business practices. A 2020 complaint from Slack was recently resolved when
the tech giant unbundled Teams from its software subscriptions. Microsoft was also in trouble in the UK last year over allegedly making it more expensive
for Windows Server customers to use the software on rival cloud platforms.

CISPE, representing cloud providers across Europe, also filed a complaint in 2022, but withdrew it after reaching a settlement with the Windows maker.

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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/microsoft-hit-by-new-legal-claim-over-restrictiv e-licensing-and-overcharging-allegations

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