Swiss competition authority opens probe into Microsoft licensing fees


A view shows a Microsoft logo at Microsoft offices in Issy-les-Moulineaux near Paris, France, March 25, 2024. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

Jan 15 (Reuters) - ‌Switzerland's competition commission said ‌on Thursday it launched a ‌preliminary investigation into Microsoft's licensing fees in the country.

The antitrust authority said ‍it has received ‍complaints from private ‌businesses as well as many ‍government agencies ​and public companies over significant price ⁠hikes of Microsoft's product licenses, which ‌may indicate an unlawful restriction ⁠of competition.

"Should ‍such indications be confirmed, this could warrant the opening ‍of a formal investigation," ‌the agency, also known as COMCO, said in a statement.

"Microsoft is committed to complying with Swiss competition law and will cooperate with the Swiss Competition ‌Commission in its preliminary investigation," a Microsoft spokesperson said.

(Reporting by ​Linda Pasquini and Oliver Hirt, editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Thomas Seythal)

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