Microsoft hit with EU antitrust charge over Teams app
5 months, 4 weeks ago

Microsoft hit with EU antitrust charge over Teams app

The Hindu  

Microsoft faces a hefty antitrust fine after the European Commission on Tuesday accused it of illegally linking its chat and video app Teams with its Office product. Two decades after Microsoft's last EU fine, the EU competition watchdog's latest action was triggered by a 2020 complaint from rival workspace messaging app Slack, owned by Salesforce. The European Commission, which acts as the EU competition watchdog, said Teams had been given a distribution advantage while limitations preventing interaction between Teams' competitors and Microsoft's offerings further hindered rivals. "Having unbundled Teams and taken initial interoperability steps, we appreciate the additional clarity provided today and will work to find solutions to address the Commission's remaining concerns," Smith said.

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History of this topic

Microsoft faces $1.27 billion antitrust lawsuit over cloud services in UK
2 weeks, 6 days ago

Microsoft faces $1.27 billion antitrust lawsuit over cloud services in UK

Live Mint  

Microsoft faces a 1 billion pound dispute in the U.K. over how it charges customers who buy cloud software services that rival its own Azure, the latest antitrust challenge to the U.S. tech giant’s approach to licensing. The lawsuit brought on behalf of multiple parties by litigation specialist firm Scott+Scott alleges that Microsoft is leveraging its dominance in must-have computer …

Google wins challenge against 1.49 billion euro EU antitrust fine
3 months ago

Google wins challenge against 1.49 billion euro EU antitrust fine

Live Mint  

Alphabet unit Google won its challenge on Wednesday against a 1.49 billion euro antitrust fine imposed five years ago for hindering rivals in online search advertising, a week after it lost a much bigger case. The European Commission in its 2019 decision said Google had abused its dominance to prevent websites from using brokers other than its AdSense platform that …

Google loses fight against $2.7 billion EU antitrust fine
3 months, 1 week ago

Google loses fight against $2.7 billion EU antitrust fine

The Hindu  

Alphabet's Google on Tuesday lost its fight against a 2.42 billion euro fine levied by EU antitrust regulators seven years ago, one of a trio of hefty fines meted out to the company for various anti-competitive practices. The European Commission fined the world's most popular internet search engine in 2017 for using its own price comparison shopping service to gain …

European Union’s competition boss signals fresh AI scrutiny for Microsoft-OpenAI deal and Google
5 months, 3 weeks ago

European Union’s competition boss signals fresh AI scrutiny for Microsoft-OpenAI deal and Google

Associated Press  

LONDON — The European Union is escalating its scrutiny of the artificial intelligence industry, including taking a fresh look into Microsoft’s multibillion-dollar partnership with OpenAI, a top EU official said Friday. We stand ready to respond to any additional questions the European Commission may have.” “We support the Commission’s goal of keeping the AI industry competitive and innovative, and look …

Microsoft breached antitrust rules by bundling Teams with office software, European Union says
5 months, 4 weeks ago

Microsoft breached antitrust rules by bundling Teams with office software, European Union says

Associated Press  

LONDON — Microsoft violated European Union antitrust rules with “possibly abusive” practices by tying its Teams messaging and videoconferencing app to its widely used business software, the bloc said. The commission, the 27-nation bloc’s top antitrust enforcer, said it suspects Microsoft might have granted Teams a “distribution advantage” by not giving customers a choice on whether to have Teams when …

European Union accuses Microsoft of breaching antitrust rules by bundling Teams with office software
5 months, 4 weeks ago

European Union accuses Microsoft of breaching antitrust rules by bundling Teams with office software

China Daily  

A view shows a Microsoft logo at Microsoft offices in Issy-les-Moulineaux near Paris, France, March 25, 2024. LONDON — European Union regulators accused Microsoft of “possibly abusive” practices that violate the bloc's antitrust rules by tying its Teams messaging and videoconferencing app to its widely used business software. The European Commission said it's concerned the US tech giant has been …

Apple faces £30bn fine over its app store policies after Brussels found the tech giant unfairly blocked developers from steering consumers to alternative payment methods
5 months, 4 weeks ago

Apple faces £30bn fine over its app store policies after Brussels found the tech giant unfairly blocked developers from steering consumers to alternative payment methods

Daily Mail  

Apple could be hit with a fine of £30billion after European regulators issued a warning over its App Store policies. The tech giant has been found to have unfairly blocked smaller companies from competing and allowing consumers to find cheaper and alternative apps. The European Commission said its initial findings suggest Apple is in breach of the bloc's Digital Markets …

Apple Risks More App Store Fines as EU Antitrust Rift Widens
5 months, 4 weeks ago

Apple Risks More App Store Fines as EU Antitrust Rift Widens

Live Mint  

-- Apple Inc. risks billions of euros of new fines over its App Store rules as European Union antitrust regulators escalated a growing conflict over rules that strike at the heart of the iPhone maker’s business model. At the same time, the commission said that it had opened a fresh investigation into Apple’s new App Store fees for developers in …

Microsoft and Amazon face scrutiny from UK competition watchdog over recent AI deals
7 months, 4 weeks ago

Microsoft and Amazon face scrutiny from UK competition watchdog over recent AI deals

Associated Press  

LONDON — British competition regulators said Wednesday they’ll scrutinize recent artificial intelligence deals by Microsoft and Amazon over concerns that the moves could thwart competition in the AI industry. The Competition and Markets Authority said it’s looking into Microsoft’s partnership with France’s Mistral AI and the company’s hiring of key staff from another startup, Inflection AI. “We will assess, objectively …

Microsoft to separate Teams and Office globally amid antitrust scrutiny
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Microsoft to separate Teams and Office globally amid antitrust scrutiny

The Hindu  

Microsoft will sell its chat and video app Teams separately from its Office product globally, the U.S. tech giant said on Monday, six months after it unbundled the two products in Europe in a bid to avert a possible EU antitrust fine. The European Commission has been investigating Microsoft's tying of Office and Teams since a 2020 complaint by Salesforce-owned …

EU to investigate Apple, Google, Meta under new digital law
8 months, 4 weeks ago

EU to investigate Apple, Google, Meta under new digital law

Al Jazeera  

Antitrust regulators will probe the Big Tech companies for potential breaches of the Digital Markets Act. European Union regulators have opened investigations into Apple, Alphabet’s Google and Meta, in the first cases under a sweeping digital law designed to stop Big Tech companies from cornering digital markets. The European Commission, the 27-nation bloc’s executive, said on Monday that it was …

Apple fined nearly $2 billion by the European Union over music streaming competition
9 months, 2 weeks ago

Apple fined nearly $2 billion by the European Union over music streaming competition

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The European Union leveled its …

EU hits Apple with $2bn antitrust fine following Spotify complaint
9 months, 2 weeks ago

EU hits Apple with $2bn antitrust fine following Spotify complaint

Al Jazeera  

Spotify says Apple prevented music-streaming services from informing users of payment options outside its App Store. The EU has issued Apple with an antitrust fine of over 1.8 billion euros following a complaint by music streaming service Spotify. The European Commission announced that the charge was triggered after Spotify complained in 2019 that Apple had prevented music-streaming services from informing …

Microsoft to unbundle Teams from Office, seeks to avert EU antitrust fine
1 year, 3 months ago

Microsoft to unbundle Teams from Office, seeks to avert EU antitrust fine

The Hindu  

Microsoft will unbundle its chat and video app Teams from its Office product and make it easier for rival products to work with its software, the U.S. company said on Thursday in a move aimed at staving off a possible EU antitrust fine. The proposed changes came a month after the European Commission launched an investigation into Microsoft's tying of …

Microsoft to stop packaging Teams and Office software in Europe to head off EU antitrust action
1 year, 3 months ago

Microsoft to stop packaging Teams and Office software in Europe to head off EU antitrust action

Associated Press  

LONDON — Microsoft will stop packaging its Teams videoconferencing app with its Office software in Europe in an effort to head off antitrust penalties by regulators. “Today we are announcing proactive changes that we hope will start to address these concerns in a meaningful way, even while the European Commission’s investigation continues and we cooperate with it,” Microsoft’s vice president …

E.U. investigates Microsoft over concerns bundling Teams with Office eliminates competition
1 year, 4 months ago

E.U. investigates Microsoft over concerns bundling Teams with Office eliminates competition

The Hindu  

The European Union said Thursday that it has opened an antitrust investigation into Microsoft over concerns that bundling its Teams messaging and videoconferencing app with its Office productivity software gives it an unfair edge over competitors. The European Commission, the 27-nation bloc's top competition enforcer, said it would carry out its in-depth investigation “as a matter of priority.” The investigation …

EU investigates Microsoft over concerns bundling Teams with Office eliminates competition
1 year, 4 months ago

EU investigates Microsoft over concerns bundling Teams with Office eliminates competition

Associated Press  

BRUSSELS — The European Union said Thursday that it has opened an antitrust investigation into Microsoft over concerns that bundling its Teams messaging and videoconferencing app with its Office productivity software gives it an unfair edge over competitors. The European Commission, the 27-nation bloc’s top competition enforcer, said it would carry out its in-depth investigation “as a matter of priority.” …

EU antitrust regulators quiz cloud rivals on Microsoft's request for customer data
1 year, 7 months ago

EU antitrust regulators quiz cloud rivals on Microsoft's request for customer data

The Hindu  

EU antitrust regulators are asking Microsoft's rivals what kind of customer data they are required to provide to the U.S. tech giant as part of their Azure cloud contracts, six months after a trade group complained about its cloud computing practices. Cloud Infrastructure Services Providers in Europe, whose members include Amazon, alleged last November that Microsoft's new contractual terms imposed …

EU backs Microsoft buying Call of Duty maker Activision
1 year, 7 months ago

EU backs Microsoft buying Call of Duty maker Activision

Al Jazeera  

The US software giant still faces a battle to clinch its $69bn deal as Britain has blocked it and the US seeks to block. The European Commission said that the biggest-ever deal in gaming was pro-competitive due to Microsoft’s licencing deals. The EU watchdog said Microsoft has offered 10-year free licencing deals to European consumers and cloud game streaming services …

EU antitrust regulators seeking more info on Apple Pay
1 year, 7 months ago

EU antitrust regulators seeking more info on Apple Pay

The Hindu  

EU antitrust regulators are seeking more information on Apple's mobile payment system, the European Commission said on Wednesday, a sign that the enforcer is looking to close any loopholes and boost its case against the iPhone maker. The EU competition watchdog last year accused Apple of restricting rivals' access to its tap-and-go technology, Near-Field Communication, used for mobile wallets, making …

UK blocks Microsoft-Activision gaming deal, biggest in tech
1 year, 7 months ago

UK blocks Microsoft-Activision gaming deal, biggest in tech

Associated Press  

LONDON — British antitrust regulators on Wednesday blocked Microsoft’s $69 billion purchase of video game maker Activision Blizzard, thwarting the biggest tech deal in history over worries that it would stifle competition for popular titles like Call of Duty in the fast-growing cloud gaming market. The U.K. watchdog’s decision “came as a surprise to most people” and heightens global uncertainty …

Microsoft's EU remedies target only cloud streaming rivals
1 year, 9 months ago

Microsoft's EU remedies target only cloud streaming rivals

The Hindu  

Microsoft Corp.'s remedies to address European Union antitrust concerns over its $69 billion acquisition of Activision focus only on cloud gaming services, with no mention of rival Sony, people familiar with the matter said on Monday. The U.S. software giant has been trying to allay the Commission's concerns that the deal may reduce competition for console and personal computers, PC …

Microsoft’s Activision deal hurts gamers, UK watchdog says
1 year, 10 months ago

Microsoft’s Activision deal hurts gamers, UK watchdog says

Associated Press  

LONDON — Microsoft’s stalled $68.7 billion deal to buy video game company Activision Blizzard has hit a fresh hurdle in the United Kingdom, where the antitrust watchdog said Wednesday that it will stifle competition and hurt gamers. Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority said its in-depth investigation found that the deal could strengthen Microsoft’s position in the growing cloud gaming market, …

Google appeals huge Android antitrust fine to EU's top court
2 years ago

Google appeals huge Android antitrust fine to EU's top court

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Google is challenging a record …

EU antitrust regulators ramp up Microsoft scrutiny, probe likely
2 years ago

EU antitrust regulators ramp up Microsoft scrutiny, probe likely

The Hindu  

Microsoft is likely to face an EU antitrust investigation as regulators intensify their scrutiny into its practices in a case triggered by Salesforce.com's workspace messaging app Slack, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday. Last year, Slack complained to the European Commission, saying that Microsoft has unfairly integrated its workplace chat and video app Teams into its Office product. …

Microsoft faces new EU antitrust complaint on cloud computing practices
2 years, 1 month ago

Microsoft faces new EU antitrust complaint on cloud computing practices

The Hindu  

Microsoft faces a new antitrust complaint over its cloud computing practices as trade group CISPE, whose members include Amazon, took its grievance to European Union antitrust regulators on Wednesday. CISPE has alleged that Microsoft's new contractual terms imposed on Oct. 1 together with other practices are irreparably damaging the European cloud computing ecosystem. "Leveraging its dominance in productivity software, Microsoft …

Microsoft's $69 billion Activision bid faces EU antitrust probe
2 years, 1 month ago

Microsoft's $69 billion Activision bid faces EU antitrust probe

The Hindu  

Microsoft may have to offer concessions to address EU antitrust concerns about its $69 billion bid for "Call of Duty" maker Activision Blizzard after regulators opened a full-scale investigation on Tuesday and warned about the impact of the deal. "The Commission's preliminary investigation shows that the transaction may significantly reduce competition on the markets for the distribution of console and …

Scores of Google rivals want EU tech law used in antitrust case - letter
2 years, 2 months ago

Scores of Google rivals want EU tech law used in antitrust case - letter

The Hindu  

More than 40 European rivals to Google's shopping service urged EU antitrust regulators on Monday to use newly adopted tech rules to ensure the Alphabet unit complies with a 2017 EU order to allow more competition on its search page. The European Commission fined Google 2.4 billion euros five years ago and told the firm to stop favouring its shopping …

EU Wants to Know if Microsoft Will Block Rivals After Activision Deal
2 years, 2 months ago

EU Wants to Know if Microsoft Will Block Rivals After Activision Deal

News 18  

BRUSSELS: EU antitrust regulators are asking games developers whether Microsoft will be incentivised to block rivals' access to "Call of Duty" maker Activision Blizzard's best-selling games, according to an EU document seen by Reuters. Games developers, publishers and distributors were asked whether the deal would affect their bargaining power regarding the terms for selling console and PC games via Microsoft's …

Apple wins a significant cut in 1.1 billion euro French antitrust fine
2 years, 2 months ago

Apple wins a significant cut in 1.1 billion euro French antitrust fine

The Hindu  

A French court on Thursday substantially lowered a fine against iPhone maker Apple Inc. for alleged anti-competitive behaviour to 372 million euros from 1.1 billion euros previously, two sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. The original fine had been imposed by France's antitrust watchdog in 2020 for what it described as Apple's anti-competitive behaviour towards its distribution and …

EU court largely upholds USD 4 billion Google Android antitrust fine
2 years, 3 months ago

EU court largely upholds USD 4 billion Google Android antitrust fine

Firstpost  

The court said that “in order better to reflect the gravity and duration of the infringement”, it’s appropriate to give Google a fine of 4.125 billion euros, according to a press summary of the decision London: One of the European Union’s highest courts has largely upheld the bloc’s biggest-ever antitrust fine, issued to Google by the bloc’s competition enforcers in …

EU likely to bolster Apple probe with new evidence, no new charges
2 years, 5 months ago

EU likely to bolster Apple probe with new evidence, no new charges

The Hindu  

EU antitrust regulators are set to beef up an investigation into Apple, triggered by Spotify, with new evidence but not new charges, in the hope of speeding up the case, people familiar with the matter said. The European Commission last year told the iPhone maker that its App Store rules, which require developers to use its own in-app payment system …

Qualcomm Wins Fight Against $1 Billion EU Antitrust Fine
2 years, 6 months ago

Qualcomm Wins Fight Against $1 Billion EU Antitrust Fine

News 18  

LUXEMBOURG:U.S. chipmaker Qualcomm on Wednesday won its fight against a 997 million euro fine imposed by EU antitrust regulators four years ago, dealing a major setback to EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager's crackdown on Big Tech. The European Commission in its 2018 decision said Qualcomm paid billions of dollars to Apple from 2011 to 2016 to use only its chips …

Microsoft seeks to dodge EU cloud computing probe with changes
2 years, 7 months ago

Microsoft seeks to dodge EU cloud computing probe with changes

The Hindu  

Microsoft will revise its licensing deals and make it easier for cloud service providers to compete, its president Brad Smith said on Wednesday, as the U.S. software giant sought to dodge a lengthy EU antitrust probe into its cloud computing business. The company found itself under the EU competition body’s scrutiny again after German software provider NextCloud, France’s OVHcloud, Italian …

Apple hit with EU antitrust charge over its payment technology
2 years, 7 months ago

Apple hit with EU antitrust charge over its payment technology

The Hindu  

EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager said in a statement that Apple restricted third-party access to key technology necessary to develop rival mobile wallet solutions on Apple's devices EU antitrust regulators charged Apple on Monday with restricting rivals' access to its NFC chip technology in a move that could result in a hefty fine for the iPhone maker and force it …

EU Charges Apple With Restricting Third-Party Services On Apple Pay
2 years, 7 months ago

EU Charges Apple With Restricting Third-Party Services On Apple Pay

News 18  

BRUSSELS:Apple faces a possible hefty fine and may have to open its mobile payment system to competitors after EU antitrust regulators charged the iPhone maker with restricting rivals' access to its technology used for mobile wallets. "We have indications that Apple restricted third-party access to key technology necessary to develop rival mobile wallet solutions on Apple's devices," EU antitrust chief …

Apple faces extra EU antitrust charge in music streaming probe
2 years, 8 months ago

Apple faces extra EU antitrust charge in music streaming probe

The Hindu  

Apple faces an additional EU antitrust charge in the coming weeks in an investigation triggered by a complaint from Spotify, a person familiar with the matter said, a sign that EU enforcers are strengthening their case against the U.S. company. The European Commission last year accused the iPhone makerof distorting competition in the music streaming market via restrictive rules for …

Microsoft’s cloud business targeted by EU antitrust regulators
2 years, 8 months ago

Microsoft’s cloud business targeted by EU antitrust regulators

The Hindu  

EU antitrust regulators are quizzing Microsoft's rivals and customers about its cloud business and licensing deals, a questionnaire seen by Reuters showed, in a move that could lead to a formal investigation and renewed scrutiny of the U.S. software company. The company found itself on the EU competition enforcer's radar again after German software provider NextCloud, France's OVHcloud and two …

EU officials agree on sweeping new rules targeting Big Tech
2 years, 8 months ago

EU officials agree on sweeping new rules targeting Big Tech

CNN  

Washington European officials have reached agreement on a sweeping set of competition rules for Big Tech that could mark a global turning point for technology regulation. The proposed framework, known as the Digital Markets Act, could label large companies such as Facebook-parent Meta or Google as "gatekeepers," and subject them to new requirements and prohibitions. During negotiations late Thursday, European …

Intel scores major win as court scraps $1.2 billion EU antitrust fine
2 years, 10 months ago

Intel scores major win as court scraps $1.2 billion EU antitrust fine

The Hindu  

Intel on Wednesday won its fight against a 1.06-billion-euro EU antitrust fine that the U.S. chipmaker was handed 12 years ago for stifling a rival, in a major setback for EU antitrust regulators. The judgment by Europe's second-top court in support of Intel's arguments is likely to cheer Alphabet unit Google in its fight against hefty EU antitrust fines and …

EU questions Microsoft rivals over Teams integration in Office
3 years, 2 months ago

EU questions Microsoft rivals over Teams integration in Office

The Hindu  

EU antitrust regulators are following up on a complaint by Slack Technologies by asking Microsoft's rivals if its Teams app integrated with its Office product gives it greater clout, in a sign that they could open an investigation. Slack, bought by business software maker Salesforce.com in July, took its grievance over Microsoft's Teams software to the Commission last year. It …

Google, in fight against record EU fine, slams regulators for ignoring Apple
3 years, 2 months ago

Google, in fight against record EU fine, slams regulators for ignoring Apple

The Hindu  

Alphabet unit Google on Monday criticised EU antitrust regulators for ignoring rival Apple as it launched a bid to get Europe's second-highest court to annul a record 4.34-billion euro fine related to its Android operating system. "The Commission shut its eyes to the real competitive dynamic in this industry, that between Apple and Android," Google's lawyer Matthew Pickford told the …

Google in court to appeal EU’s 2018 Android antitrust case
3 years, 2 months ago

Google in court to appeal EU’s 2018 Android antitrust case

The Hindu  

Google is heading to a top European Union court Monday to appeal a record EU antitrust penalty imposed for stifling competition through the dominance of its Android operating system. The bundle contains 11 apps, including YouTube, Maps and Gmail, but regulators focused on the three that had the biggest market share: Google Search, Chrome and the company’s Play Store for …

Google offers to settle EU antitrust probe into digital advertising
3 years, 2 months ago

Google offers to settle EU antitrust probe into digital advertising

The Hindu  

Alphabet unit Google is seeking to settle an EU antitrust investigation into its digital advertising business, a person familiar with the matter said, a move that could help it stave off a disruptive, lengthy probe and a possible hefty fine. The European Commission opened an investigation in June into whether Google favours its own online display advertising technology services to …

European consumer group joins EU antitrust case against Apple
3 years, 6 months ago

European consumer group joins EU antitrust case against Apple

The Hindu  

The European Consumer Organisation lobby group on Wednesday backed the European Union's antitrust case against Apple which alleges it distorts competition in the music streaming market. The European Commission filed its first antitrust charges against Apple in April following an initial complaint by the iPhone maker's rival Spotify. Apple has rejected the EU charges, saying that its App Store enabled …

EU to hit Apple with antitrust charge this week
3 years, 7 months ago

EU to hit Apple with antitrust charge this week

The Hindu  

EU antitrust regulators are set to charge iPhone maker Apple this week with blocking rivals on its App Store following a complaint by music streaming service Spotify, a person familiar with the matter said on Tuesday. The move, the first EU antitrust charge against Apple, could lead to a fine as much as 10% of Apple's global revenue and changes …

EU move vs Amazon is latest in string of tech crackdowns
4 years, 1 month ago

EU move vs Amazon is latest in string of tech crackdowns

Associated Press  

LONDON — The European Union’s move to charge Amazon over alleged antitrust behavior is the bloc’s latest crackdown on U.S. tech giants. ___ APPLE June 2020: EU Commission opens two investigations into Apple’s mobile app store and payment platform over concerns its practices distort competition by limiting choice and innovation and keeping prices high. ___ GOOGLE 2020: The EU commission …

EU files antitrust charges against Amazon over use of data
4 years, 1 month ago

EU files antitrust charges against Amazon over use of data

Associated Press  

LONDON — European Union regulators filed antitrust charges Tuesday against Amazon, accusing the e-commerce giant of using its access to data from companies that sell products on its platform to gain an unfair advantage over them. The EU’s executive Commission also opened a second investigation Tuesday into whether Amazon favors product offers and merchants that use its own logistics and …

EU charges Amazon with anti-competitive action, opens second probe
4 years, 1 month ago

EU charges Amazon with anti-competitive action, opens second probe

The Hindu  

EU regulators charged Amazon on Tuesday with distorting competition in online retail and opened a second investigation into its business practices, as antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager takes aim at another U.S. technology giant. The European Commission has been investigating Amazon's dual role - as a marketplace for merchants and also a rival seller - since July last year, triggered by …

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