Welcome to the club, says Google, Meta, and Amazon
On Tuesday, Germany's Bundeskartellamt — which translates to federal cartel office —it was evaluating whether Microsoft qualified as a company of"paramount significance." Or put another way, whether it's large enough to pose a threat to companies with fewer resources and therefore warrant closer scrutiny by regulators.
The investigation is being conducted under abuse control laws that went into effect in early 2021. These changes granted the agency the authority to prohibit large companies from engaging in certain business practices if it's determined they're likely to harm competition. And while regulators have only just begun their probe of Microsoft's business dealings, there are a few reasons to believe the company already meets the criteria."The existence of a digital ecosystem which extends across various markets can be an indication that a company holds such a position," the Bundeskartellamt said in a statement.
The agency pointed to the company's expansive portfolio, which spans operating systems, productivity software, cloud services, video games, and social media as examples."In light of this, there are good reasons to examine whether Microsoft is of paramount significance for competition across markets.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Microsoft’s Bing AI chatbot gamble might have worked - and Google will pay the priceOh, how the tables are slowly turning...
Read more »
Microsoft’s greed could be Bing’s AI downfallMicrosoft gets weird about rival chatbots using Bing
Read more »
Violent clashes outside refugee hotel after hundreds of protesters gatherTwo people have been arrested on suspicion of assault after clashes erupted outside a hotel that houses refugees in Cornwall.
Read more »
Say goodbye to absurdly cheap Game Pass: Microsoft is killing the $1 trialOne of the best deals in gaming is set for the chopping block.
Read more »
What Germany's biggest strikes in 30 years mean for people travelling thereTravellers heading to Germany on Monday and Tuesday can expect severe disruption on what the union has called 'Mega Strike Day'
Read more »
Microsoft stops £1 Xbox Game Pass trialMicrosoft has stopped its £1 trial offer for Xbox Game Pass. The trial has been around for some time and provided…
Read more »