• FTC digs deeper into Microsoft’s bundling and licensing practices The federal agency has begun issuing CIDs to Microsoft competitors in the business software and cloud computing markets. • The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) seems to be doubling down on its investigation of Microsoft and the tech giant’s potentially shady bundling and licensing practices. • According toa Bloomberg report, the federal agency has been issuing civil investigative demands (CIDs) to companies that compete with Microsoft in the business software and cloud computing markets. • CIDs are powerful, subpoena-like mandates used by government agencies to investigate potential violations of civil law, typically before a formal complaint or lawsuit is filed. • According to inside sources, at least a half-dozen companies have received these requests, which ask a range of questions around Microsoft’s licensing and other business practices, the report said. • The FTC is also seeking information on Microsoft’s bundling of AI, security, and identity software into other products, including Windows and Office.
Article Summaries:
- The federal agency has begun issuing CIDs to Microsoft competitors in the business software and cloud computing markets. Credit: Emagnetic / Shutterstock The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) seems to be doubling down on its investigation of Microsoft and the tech giant’s potentially shady bundling and licensing practices. According to a Bloomberg report, the federal agency has been issuing civil investigative demands (CIDs) to companies that compete with Microsoft in the business software and cloud computing markets. CIDs are powerful, subpoena-like mandates used by government agencies to inv
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