Here we go again: Microsoft in UK court over cloud licensing

Stop us if you've heard this one before. Microsoft is in court regarding allegedly sharp software licensing practices.

The hearing before the UK's Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) concerns a case brought by Dr Maria Luisa Stasi, which accuses Microsoft of overcharging UK businesses and organizations that use Windows Server on rival platforms, such as Google or AWS. At its core, the case is simple – Microsoft is alleged to have used its market power to steer customers toward Azure.

The Proposed Class has approximately 59,000 members across a broad range of industries and sectors. According to Stasi's team, the average member has suffered a loss of in the tens of thousands of pounds.

The case was filed in December 2024. In October, a Microsoft spokesperson told The Register: "This is an opportunistic attempt by a law firm and its private funders to piggy-back on baseless complaints Google ...