The U.K. Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is advancing an investigation into Microsoft’s business practices. Regulators initiated the probe in May to determine if software dominance harms competition in the cloud and AI sectors.
The inquiry examines whether product bundling, interoperability limits, and default settings unfairly restrict customer choice. Officials are specifically reviewing how licensing for Office and Windows affects cloud infrastructure and emerging AI tools.
The CMA will assess if Microsoft should receive strategic market status to enable tailored conduct requirements. The agency expects to release a final report by February 2027.