Microsoft Japan Raided Over Suspected Violation of Anti-Monopoly Law (reuters.com)
(Wednesday February 25, 2026 @11:00AM (msmash)
from the tussle-continues dept.)
- Reference: 0180858298
- News link: https://slashdot.org/story/26/02/25/1124220/microsoft-japan-raided-over-suspected-violation-of-anti-monopoly-law
- Source link: https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/microsoft-japan-raided-over-suspected-violation-anti-monopoly-law-nikkei-says-2026-02-25/
An anonymous reader shares a report:
> Japan's Fair Trade Commission [1]raided Microsoft Japan's offices on Wednesday as part of an investigation into whether it improperly restricted customers of its Azure platform from using rival cloud services, a source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.
>
> The source said Japan's antitrust authorities would also be seeking clarification from Microsoft's parent company in the United States. Microsoft Japan is suspected of setting conditions that effectively shut out other services by limiting access to popular services on other cloud platforms, the source said.
[1] https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/microsoft-japan-raided-over-suspected-violation-anti-monopoly-law-nikkei-says-2026-02-25/
> Japan's Fair Trade Commission [1]raided Microsoft Japan's offices on Wednesday as part of an investigation into whether it improperly restricted customers of its Azure platform from using rival cloud services, a source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.
>
> The source said Japan's antitrust authorities would also be seeking clarification from Microsoft's parent company in the United States. Microsoft Japan is suspected of setting conditions that effectively shut out other services by limiting access to popular services on other cloud platforms, the source said.
[1] https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/microsoft-japan-raided-over-suspected-violation-anti-monopoly-law-nikkei-says-2026-02-25/
Duh. (Score:2)
by 3vi1 ( 544505 )
Yeah... this was settled years ago. Then Bush had it dismissed (Thanks, very large MS GOP campaign contributions!)
The question has never been if Microsoft is guilty of anti-trust violations. The question is simply how many did they commit today?
Anyway (Score:2)
Anyway, like I was saying, this little bit of lint was stuck in my belly button. I had to winkle it out with my finger. It took like 30 seconds. Amazing, right?
Re: (Score:2)
Is it not obvious? You have to find at least the board and some of the money and pieces before you can actually charge someone with illegal possession of Monopoly.
Re: (Score:2)
Probably by digging through their company records to find evidence of bribes or coercion in support of their monopoly position.
Of course, that evidence is all secured safely in an encrypted cloud. Offshore and beyond the reach of authorities. So, not Azure.