CMA proposes closer scrutiny of Microsoft’s business software
The Competition and Markets Authority has proposed designating Microsoft’s business software ecosystem with strategic market status. The proposal is open to consultation and is not a final decision. The CMA says the products are used by more than a million UK businesses and public-sector organisations, with around 20 million monthly users.
The regulator will gather evidence on software bundling, how easily rival developers can integrate with Microsoft products and whether customers can choose alternative AI tools alongside Copilot. It is also examining licensing and cloud-provider switching.
The CMA says its findings are provisional and a final decision is due by February 2027. A designation would not itself mean that Microsoft had broken the law; it could allow targeted measures if the legal tests are met.
Source
- Competition and Markets Authority, 16 October 2026
