Core Insights - Microsoft has ceased the practice of naming its competitors in regulatory documents, marking a significant shift from its previous approach [2][3] - The latest annual report did not mention any rivals, including major competitors like Apple and IBM, which were previously acknowledged [2] - This change aligns Microsoft with other companies like Amazon and Tesla, which have also moved away from naming competitors in their reports [3] Company Practices - The 101-page annual report released by Microsoft contains no references to competitors, contrasting with last year's report that identified over 25 companies as rivals [2] - Historically, Microsoft has included the names of its competitors in annual reports since at least 1994, indicating a long-standing tradition that has now been abandoned [2] Industry Trends - The omission of competitor names by Microsoft breaks from a common industry practice where companies like Apple, Meta, and Nvidia continue to name their rivals [3] - The current approach by Microsoft states that it faces competition across various markets, including productivity software, PC operating systems, and cloud infrastructure, without specifying individual companies [3]