Google accuses Microsoft of anticompetitive cloud licensing in EU complaint

Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL) has filed an antitrust complaint with the European Commission against Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), accusing it of unfair licensing practices regarding its Azure cloud computing service.

The complaint alleges Microsoft’s Azure license makes it harder for customers to migrate to other competing services, such as Google Cloud.

This marks Google’s (GOOG) latest pushback against Microsoft’s licensing practices. In July, it reportedly offered a group of EU-based cloud companies a deal worth around €470M ($512M) in a failed effort to prevent an antitrust settlement with Microsoft (MSFT).

The trade body Cloud Infrastructure Services Providers in Europe, or CISPE, reached a deal with Microsoft to resolve issues related to alleged unfair software licensing for cloud infrastructure providers and their customers. The deal spared Microsoft from a fine and further EU probe.

Microsoft (MSFT) has said it expects Google’s (GOOGL) antitrust complaint with the EC to fail, noting it had settled similar concerns with CISPE.