Post by : Shakul

Japan’s antitrust watchdog has launched an investigation into Microsoft Corp. over suspected violations of the country’s anti-monopoly law, according to sources familiar with the matter. The Japan Fair Trade Commission conducted an on-site inspection of Microsoft’s Japanese subsidiary in Minato Ward on Wednesday as part of the probe.

Investigators believe that Microsoft charged higher licensing fees to businesses using its Microsoft 365 and Windows software when operated on cloud platforms other than Microsoft Azure. The commission is examining whether the company used its strong position in software to disadvantage rival cloud service providers.

Cloud services allow users to access software and data storage over the internet without owning physical servers. Microsoft’s Japanese unit said it will fully cooperate with the investigation as authorities assess whether its licensing practices restricted fair competition in Japan’s rapidly expanding cloud market.

The probe comes as global competition in cloud services intensifies, with major technology firms such as Amazon and Google also expanding their presence. Japan’s antitrust authority has increased scrutiny of big tech firms in recent years, including inspections of Amazon Japan in 2024 and enforcement action against Google in 2025.

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