Regulators probe Microsoft’s cloud and pricing practices in Japan

Japan’s Fair Trade Commission has launched an on-site investigation into Microsoft Japan over allegations it used Azure pricing and licensing structures to disadvantage rival cloud providers, including a suspected ‘double pricing’ scheme. Reports suggest these practices may have imposed roughly $100 million in extra annual costs on customers and could lead to surcharges of up to 20% of related sales if violations are found. Microsoft says it is fully cooperating with the probe. The case fits into a broader global wave of regulatory scrutiny on Microsoft’s market power in cloud and software services.