Microsoft Faces Swiss Probe Over Licensing Fees, Shares Drop 2%
Switzerland's Competition Commission (COMCO) has initiated a preliminary investigation into Microsoft's licensing practices following complaints from businesses and government entities about steep price hikes. The probe examines potential violations of Swiss competition law, with Microsoft pledging full cooperation. Market reaction was immediate, with MSFT shares falling 2% on the news.
The scrutiny comes as Microsoft implements global pricing adjustments. While the company reduced Swiss franc prices for Microsoft 365 and Dynamics 365 by 9% last September, its Azure cloud services continue monthly pricing updates without similar reductions. Swiss IT providers may benefit from increased compliance demands as organizations reevaluate their productivity software options.
