Google has stepped back from its formal antitrust complaint against Microsoft in the European Union, choosing instead to rely on a broader investigation now underway into the behaviour of the biggest cloud service providers. The move marks a shift in Google’s strategy as EU regulators take a deeper look at whether the structure of the cloud industry has allowed dominant players to cement their power in ways that make it harder for rivals and customers to operate freely.
The complaint, filed in 2023, accused Microsoft of using unfair software licensing terms and bundling tactics that pushed corporate clients toward Azure, its cloud computing platform. While Google had previously argued that these practices placed competitors at a disadvantage, the company now believes the European Commission’s new sector-wide review is better positioned to address the concerns.
A Strategic Exit Amid a Much Larger EU Investigation
Google formally acknowledged the withdrawal in a blog post by Giorgia Abeltino, who oversees government affairs and public policy for Google Cloud in Europe. She explained that the complaint was dropped after the Commission announced that it would evaluate questionable cloud practices under a separate investigative track.
The new probe, launched just a week before Google’s decision, aims to determine whether the cloud business models of Microsoft and Amazon Web Services (AWS) are reinforcing their already substantial market lead. Rather than examining a single dispute, the European Commission is opening the door to a sweeping review of competitive conditions across the entire industry.
In her post, Abeltino wrote that the company would continue to engage with policymakers and regulators across Europe and the UK, reiterating Google’s support for an open, flexible cloud environment. Although the company no longer seeks a standalone ruling on Microsoft’s conduct, it maintains that competition concerns remain significant and should be addressed through the Commission’s broader approach.
A Market Dominated by Three Tech Giants
The cloud computing industry is one of the most concentrated areas of the global tech sector. Amazon leads the market with around 30% share, followed by Microsoft at roughly 20% and Google at about 13%. These three providers shape much of the infrastructure that powers businesses, public agencies, and fast-growing AI services across Europe and beyond.
For years, European regulators and smaller cloud companies have warned that competition is skewed by restrictive software licensing rules and bundling strategies that make it harder for customers to switch providers. Google’s earlier complaint targeted some of these issues, arguing that Microsoft made it more complicated or expensive for companies to run Microsoft software on rival clouds.
Microsoft, for its part, has maintained that it has taken steps to address licensing concerns in Europe and insists its agreements are designed to meet customer needs. It has repeatedly rejected the claim that its practices undermine competition.
Brussels Shifts From Individual Complaints to System-Level Oversight
The current EU probe reflects a broader shift in how Brussels approaches digital regulation. Rather than responding to isolated grievances, regulators are now examining whether structural features of the cloud market make it difficult for competitors to grow or for customers to move their data and software freely.
The investigation aims to uncover whether interoperability barriers, complex switching costs, or licensing restrictions have strengthened the positions of AWS and Microsoft Azure beyond what would be expected in a competitive market. The Commission plans to gather data from cloud users, rivals, and independent experts to assemble a detailed picture of how the sector operates.
This inquiry is expected to take up to a year. If regulators ultimately determine that Microsoft or Amazon qualify as “gatekeepers,” they could face a series of obligations under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA)—one of the most comprehensive digital competition laws in the world.
What a ‘Gatekeeper’ Label Could Mean
A gatekeeper designation would impose strict rules intended to ensure that large platforms cannot use their dominance to shut out rivals. In the context of cloud services, this could include requirements to improve data portability, avoid self-preferencing, reduce switching barriers, or stop bundling certain software products in ways that limit customer choice.
Both Microsoft and Amazon argue that the cloud sector remains highly competitive, especially as businesses increasingly adopt multi-cloud strategies and new AI-focused services emerge. However, the Commission is concerned that customers often feel locked into their existing providers due to the cost and complexity of moving large datasets or reconfiguring software.
If either company is designated as a gatekeeper, they would face a much more prescriptive regulatory environment in Europe—a change that could ripple across global cloud operations and influence how other providers, including Google, shape their future strategies.
