Alphabet Inc.'s Google (GOOG) has lodged a complaint with the European Commission accusing Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) of engaging in anti-competitive practices related to cloud computing licensing, according to multiple media outlets.
The complaint asserts that Microsoft's Azure cloud platform creates customer lock-in by tethering them to the Windows server, thereby complicating the process of migrating workloads to alternative cloud providers.
Google further accuses Microsoft of penalizing businesses that attempt to utilize other cloud services. According to CNBC, several European businesses and public sector organizations have incurred penalties amounting to as much as $1.1 billion annually.
It’s worth noting that in 2022, the Amazon-endorsed cloud lobbying group Cloud Infrastructure Services Providers in Europe (CISPE) also lodged a complaint with the European Commission concerning Microsoft's contractual terms.
As of now, Alphabet's stock is trading at $163.94, reflecting a 0.22 percent increase on the Nasdaq.
