- Microsoft accused of disloyal software license practices … again – this time in the United Kingdom
- Consumers, businesses and the public sector are all affected
- Office licenses and Windows are at the heart of the case
Microsoft faces a legal complaint of several billion pounds in the United Kingdom on an alleged anti -competitive behavior – Redmond has been accused of disloyal software license practices, a complaint that it is too familiar with recent proceedings and investigations.
The complaint accuses the company of having abused its domination of the market to restrict competition between new and used software licenses, inflating prices for both.
In the case of this particular trial in the United Kingdom, the emphasis is placed on the Microsoft Office and Windows licenses sold since October 1, 2015, thus covering a period of a decade.
Microsoft is in difficulty in the United Kingdom on software license practices
Stewarts, a law firm based in the United Kingdom, directs the dispute, representing British consumers, companies and public sector organizations that bought affected licenses.
At the top of the case, Kate Pollock explained (via The register)): “Microsoft’s driving has had a deep and costly impact on millions of individuals and private sector organizations based on its software for daily commercial operations.”
“This complaint aims to take Microsoft to account and guarantee remuneration for the many affected members of the class. With billions of pounds potentially at stake, this case consists in guaranteeing equity on the digital market and even ensuring the largest technological companies that play according to the rules,” added Alex Wolfson, the proposed class representative, added.
This is not the first time that Microsoft has made the news about anti -competitive business practices. A Slack’s complaint in 2020 has been recently resolved when technology giant teams have unbundled its software subscriptions. Microsoft was also in trouble in the United Kingdom last year, which allegedly made Windows Server customers to use the software on Cloud Rivals platforms.
CISPE, representative of cloud suppliers across Europe, also filed a complaint in 2022, but withdrew it after reaching a settlement with the window manufacturer.
Techradar Pro asked Microsoft a comment on the Open UK affair – any update will be published here.
