Google reportedly withdrew its European Union (EU) antitrust complaint against Microsoft’s cloud computing practices, a week after regulators launched a formal investigation into the cloud market.
The Alphabet-owned company originally filed a complaint with the European Commission (EC) last year, accusing Microsoft of anti-competitive conduct that allegedly locked customers into its Azure cloud platform.
Reuters reported that Giorgia Abeltino, head of government affairs and public policy for Google Cloud Europe, stated the company is withdrawing its complaint “in light of the recent announcement that the EC will assess problematic practices affecting the cloud sector under a separate process”.
Last week, the EC opened an investigation into whether structural features of the cloud computing industry are responsible for reinforcing the market power of players including Microsoft’s Azure and Amazon Web Services (AWS).
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“We continue to work with policymakers, customers, and regulators across the EU, the UK, and elsewhere to advocate for choice and openness in the cloud market,” Abeltino reportedly added.
The EC’s year-long probe could result in cloud players including Azure and AWS being designated as “gatekeepers” under the EU’s Digital Markets Act, which would subject them to strict regulations designed to curb market dominance and promote competition.
Settled amicably
Microsoft has previously rebuffed Google’s claims. In July 2024, the company reached a €20 million settlement with trade body CISPE to resolve a separate antitrust complaint over its cloud licensing practices. Following that deal, a Microsoft representative told Mobile World Live it expected the Commission to dismiss Google’s complaint.
“Microsoft settled amicably similar concerns raised by European cloud providers, even after Google hoped they would keep litigating,” the company said at the time. “Having failed to persuade European companies, we expect Google similarly will fail to persuade the European Commission.”
