Swiss regulator opens inquiry into Microsoft license fees

Zurich: The Swiss Competition Commission said Thursday that it had opened a preliminary inquiry into Microsoft’s licensing fees, after complaints by rivals over what it called “significant” price hikes for the Microsoft 365 software suite.

“Recent fee increases may constitute indications of an unlawful restriction of competition,” the agency said.

Microsoft 365 is widely used “by private businesses as well as numerous government agencies, public companies and other government-related bodies”, it added.