Microsoft Settles CISPE Antitrust Complaint with Multi-Million Euro Payout, Avoids EU Cloud Probe

Jul 10, 2024, 02:50 PM

Microsoft has reached a settlement with the Cloud Infrastructure Services Providers in Europe (CISPE) to resolve an antitrust complaint regarding its cloud computing licensing practices. The agreement, which involves a multi-million euro payout, will allow CISPE members to run Microsoft software on their platforms at prices equivalent to Microsoft's own. This deal helps Microsoft avoid a lengthy European Union antitrust probe, which could have resulted in significant fines. The settlement follows nearly two years of complaints from CISPE, an Amazon-backed trade lobby, about Microsoft's software license agreements. As part of the deal, CISPE members are under a gag order and cannot file further complaints.