Antitrust Investigation into Microsoft’s Software Licensing and Cloud Businesses

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Antitrust Investigation into Microsoft’s Software Licensing and Cloud Businesses

Loveworld / 34 mins

November 29, 2024

1 min read

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has initiated a broad antitrust investigation into Microsoft, focusing on the company’s software licensing practices and cloud computing businesses, according to sources familiar with the matter. The probe, which was approved by FTC Chair Lina Khan, comes ahead of her expected departure in January, adding a sense of urgency to the investigation.
The investigation raises significant questions about Microsoft’s market dominance in key sectors, particularly as the company continues to expand its influence in the cloud computing space. This development is seen as part of a broader regulatory scrutiny of Big Tech companies, and its timing may be influenced by the anticipation of a change in leadership at the FTC following the election of Donald Trump, who is expected to appoint a Republican successor with a potentially less aggressive stance on antitrust enforcement.