Japan probes Microsoft cloud licensing
Probe focuses on Azure licensing practices.
Japan’s Fair Trade Commission has launched an investigation into Microsoft in Tokyo over suspected antitrust violations. Authorities conducted an on-site inspection of Microsoft’s Japanese subsidiary in Tokyo on Wednesday, according to sources.
Regulators are examining whether Microsoft charged higher licensing fees to customers running Microsoft 365 and Windows on rival cloud platforms rather than on Microsoft Azure. The inquiry centres on concerns that software dominance may have restricted competition in Japan’s cloud market.
Microsoft’s Japanese unit said it would cooperate fully with the Fair Trade Commission in Tokyo. The watchdog is assessing whether pricing practices unfairly hindered rivals such as Amazon and Google, which also compete in Japan’s expanding cloud sector.
Japan’s Fair Trade Commission has intensified oversight of major technology firms in recent years. Previous actions in Japan include investigations into Amazon Japan and a 2025 order requiring Google to end certain preinstallation practices.
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