Microsoft faces $2.3bn cloud computing lawsuit in UK

April 23, 2026 / 6:18 PM

Sharjah 24 – AFP: Microsoft is facing a $2.3 billion class action lawsuit in the United Kingdom, alleging it abused its market dominance to overcharge businesses.

Allegations of anti-competitive practices

The case, filed by digital markets expert Maria Luisa Stasi on behalf of around 59,000 UK organisations, claims Microsoft imposed higher costs on customers using its Windows Server software on competing cloud platforms.

Case cleared for trial

The Competition Appeal Tribunal has approved the case to proceed, stating it has a “reasonable prospect of success” and pointing to potential abuse of dominance in the server operating system market.

Potential compensation and response

If successful, compensation could range between £1.7 billion and £2.1 billion. Microsoft has said it will appeal the decision and disputes the allegations.

Wider regulatory scrutiny

Microsoft’s cloud practices are also being examined by regulators in the UK and the European Union, including a review of its software licensing policies and market influence.