WASHINGTON, D.C. – For several years, the CFSL has highlighted the need for Microsoft to change its anticompetitive and unfair software license practices that are harming customers across the country, urging regulators to intervene. The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) investigation is significant because history has shown that nothing short of regulatory action will make Microsoft change its harmful practices.
According to Bloomberg, the FTC will move ahead with a broad antitrust probe that will examine the company’s software licensing practices among other matters. Applying a decades-long honed playbook, Microsoft uses its entrenched and dominant position in software services to foreclose competition and lock customers into their ecosystem.
“Microsoft has squeezed its customers with unlawful software licensing and tying practices for over half a decade. Leveraging its dominant position in productivity software, Microsoft limits customer choice and inhibits fair competition, ultimately increasing the bottom-line costs for both commercial customers and the U.S. taxpayer. Customers should be able to choose their technology providers based on value and quality, not their license terms. We applaud the FTC for taking action to protect customers and hold Microsoft accountable.” – Ryan Triplette, Coalition Executive Director
About the Coalition for Fair Software Licensing
The Coalition for Fair Software Licensing is a North American-based initiative seeking to unlock greater customer choice, innovation, and security in the cloud by advocating for the Principles of Fair Software Licensing. Our members span a cross-section of key industries, including healthcare companies, financial services businesses, as well as cloud and cybersecurity providers – each one has experienced or been exposed to anticompetitive and abusive software licensing practices in the cloud. Together, we are taking a stand against these predatory practices by advocating for the Principles of Fair Software Licensing to ensure more choice, innovation, and security in the cloud. To learn more about the Coalition for Fair Software Licensing, please visit FairSoftwareLicensing.com.
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