March 4, 2026
Japan Fair Trade Commission
JFTC Seeks Information and Comments from Third Parties Concerning the Suspected Violation of the Antimonopoly Act by Microsoft Corporation, etc.
Today, I would like to talk about the JFTC’s decision to open an investigation into the suspected violation of the Antimonopoly Act by Microsoft Corporation, etc., and to seek information and comments from third parties.
The suspected violation concerns the trade terms for the use of software or services provided by Microsoft Corporation, etc. when such software or services are used on cloud services provided by enterprises other than Microsoft Corporation, etc., i.e., competitors.
Microsoft Corporation, etc. provides software or services such as Windows Server, Windows Client, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft 365, and Visual Studio (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Services”).
Microsoft Corporation, etc. is suspected of engaging in the following conduct toward enterprises that have obtained or may potentially obtain licenses to use the Services:
(1) not allowing them to use the Services on cloud services that compete with Microsoft’s cloud service, Microsoft Azure (hereinafter referred to as “Azure”); or
(2) modifying or setting trade terms of the Services so that costs for the users, etc. are increased when the Services are used in combination with competing cloud services compared to the case in which the Services are used on Azure.
Through such conduct, Microsoft Corporation, etc. is suspected of preventing providers of competing cloud services from obtaining transactions related to the provision of cloud services, which may constitute a violation of the Antimonopoly Act.
Based on these suspected facts, the JFTC has opened an investigation into Microsoft Corporation, etc., including conducting an on-site inspection of Microsoft Japan Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation. As part of this investigation, the JFTC began seeking information and comments from third parties today and announced this on its website.
It should be noted that the JFTC has not reached any conclusions at this stage as to whether or not the Antimonopoly Act has been violated.
Details of the request for information and comments are available on the JFTC’s Japanese website. You can find the relevant page by selecting “JFTC Opens an Investigation and Seeks Information and Comments from Third Parties Concerning the Suspected Violation of the Antimonopoly Act by Microsoft Corporation, etc.” on the top page. After reviewing the information on that page, you may provide information by sending an email to the address indicated there.
Any information and comments received will be used solely for the purpose of this investigation and will not be used for any other purpose. We would greatly appreciate it if you could provide candid and specific information.
We also ask for the cooperation of members of the media in helping to publicize this request for information and comments.
（Tentative translation）
