SAP’s ERP support services raise antitrust concerns in EU

Core Insights - SAP is under formal investigation by the European Commission regarding its maintenance and support services for ERP software, with concerns that these practices may restrict competition in the market [5][4] - The investigation highlights long-standing issues noted by tech executives, particularly regarding SAP's push towards subscription-based cloud products [3] Investigation Details - The European Commission is examining four specific practices by SAP that may hinder competition in the aftermarket for maintenance and support services [4] - The practices under scrutiny include: - Requiring customers to obtain maintenance and support services directly from SAP, limiting their ability to choose from various suppliers [6] - Preventing customers from terminating maintenance and support for unused software licenses, leading to unnecessary costs [6] - Regularly extending the duration of initial on-premises ERP licenses, complicating the cancellation of maintenance and support services [6] - Imposing reinstatement and back-maintenance fees on customers who resume services after a lapse [6] Company Response - SAP has stated that it does not expect the investigation to materially impact its financial performance and is cooperating with the European Commission to address the concerns raised [5]