Technology trade groups and Alphabet’s (GOOGL.O) Google have complained to the Federal Trade Commission about unfair cloud business practices, particularly by Microsoft (MSFT.O).
In MARCH, the U.S. agency requested Information on security and competition in the lucrative cloud data storage and computing business. The responses were due Wednesday.
They follow global investigations, including Europe’s antitrust authority’s investigation into Microsoft’s license agreements that allegedly impeded rival cloud use. Industry criticism has also targeted cloud data removal fees.
NetChoice criticized Microsoft and Oracle (ORCL.N) on Tuesday.
“Despite vibrant competition in the cloud industry, a few vendors use anticompetitive practices in order to entrench their position, most often by preventing customers from switching providers in search of lower costs, stronger service offerings, and more innovative solutions for their businesses,” said NetChoice, which includes market leader Amazon.com (AMZN.O), Meta Platforms (META.O), Google, and other smaller tech players.
In its filing, Google said, “licensing terms enforced by Microsoft, Oracle, and other legacy on-premises software providers distort competition in the cloud.”
Google reiterated that firms that bought Microsoft software for their data centers suffer restrictions and costs when moving those licenses to Microsoft’s main cloud competitors. Amazon also criticized.
Microsoft and Oracle did not respond to Reuters inquiries. Microsoft has changed several conditions in response to criticism and stated it is committed to a broader cloud community success, but rivals have deemed its adjustments insufficient.
FTC said nothing. The Information reported Google’s filing.
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