PYMNTS.com·2025-11-28 21:19Core Viewpoint - Google has withdrawn its antitrust complaint against Microsoft in the European Union, which was initially filed in 2024, alleging unfair software licensing practices related to Microsoft's Azure cloud business [1][2]. Group 1: Antitrust Complaint Details - The complaint was filed by Google to address concerns about anticompetitive cloud licensing practices, aiming to represent the interests of its customers and partners [3]. - Google accused Microsoft of using restrictive contracts to lock clients into its Azure cloud infrastructure, leveraging its popular Windows Server and Office products to hinder competition [5]. - Microsoft expressed confidence that the European Commission would dismiss Google's complaint, citing previous amicable settlements with other European cloud providers [6]. Group 2: European Commission's Investigation - The European Commission is investigating whether Microsoft's Azure must comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which may apply to services that do not meet traditional thresholds for turnover and active users [2][4]. - A spokesperson from the European Commission indicated that they will continue to monitor the cloud sector under antitrust regulations to ensure benefits for European consumers and businesses [4].