Microsoft is facing a £1.7 billion ($2.3 billion) class action lawsuit in the United Kingdom over allegations that it abused its dominant market position in cloud computing.
Microsoft
The case, filed before the Competition Appeal Tribunal, was brought by Maria Luisa Stasi on behalf of about 59,000 British businesses and organisations. It alleges that Microsoft unfairly imposed higher costs on customers running its Windows Server software on rival cloud platforms.
Stasi said the company’s practices have had a significant financial impact on both public and private sector organisations over several years.
In allowing the case to proceed, the tribunal ruled that it has a “reasonable prospect of success.” The judges noted that Microsoft is alleged to have abused its dominance in the paid server operating system market to undermine competition in the cloud services space.
If the claim succeeds, compensation for affected organisations is estimated to range between £1.7 billion and £2.1 billion.
Microsoft has rejected the allegations and confirmed it will appeal the ruling. A company spokesperson said the decision does not represent a final judgment on the claims and that it disputes the substance of the case.
The lawsuit comes as regulators in the UK and the European Union intensify scrutiny of Microsoft’s cloud business practices. UK authorities are currently assessing whether the company should be designated as having “strategic market status,” a move that would subject it to stricter competition rules.
