U.K. Competition Watchdog Considers Tighter Rules for Microsoft on Business Software
By Edith Hancock
The U.K.'s Competition and Markets Authority said it could impose tighter guardrails on Microsoft due to its market power in the business software space.
The CMA said on Friday that tools such as Excel and Copilot have roughly 20 million monthly users in the U.K. and that the business software landscape is changing rapidly with the evolution of artificial intelligence. It said that Microsoft's strength in business software comes from the barriers customers face when switching to other companies' services. These factors could lead the authority to designate Microsoft as having Strategic Market Status in the business software industry.
Microsoft said that it disagrees with a potential designation and that its products are interoperable.
The CMA also said that it is seeking feedback on the potential designation until Nov. 13.
Write to Edith Hancock at edith.hancock@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
October 16, 2026 05:59 ET (09:59 GMT)
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