Microsoft Faces $1.27 Billion Lawsuit Over Alleged Licensing Overcharges

Microsoft Faces $1.27 Billion Lawsuit Over Alleged Licensing Overcharges

Microsoft (MSFT) is under legal scrutiny as it faces a class-action lawsuit in the UK for up to £1 billion ($1.27 billion). The lawsuit, filed with the UK's Competition Appeal Tribunal, accuses Microsoft of charging excessive licensing fees to thousands of UK businesses. These fees are allegedly tied to the use of cloud computing services provided by competitors, such as Google (GOOGL), Amazon (AMZN), and Alibaba (BABA), through Microsoft's Windows Server platform.

The case, led by Maria Luisa Stasi on behalf of affected businesses, claims Microsoft has been "forcing customers into using its Azure cloud computing service while limiting competition within the sector." The international law firm Scott+Scott represents the claimants.

Despite requests for comment, Microsoft declined to provide a statement regarding the allegations.