UK Antitrust Watchdog Opens Probe Into Microsoft Copilot Pricing
*The Competition and Markets Authority is examining whether Microsoft misled customers on subscription costs after folding Copilot into its productivity tools.*
The UK’s consumer and antitrust watchdog has launched an investigation into Microsoft. It is checking whether the company misled users into paying higher prices for productivity software subscriptions once Copilot was added to the suite.
The probe focuses on the period after the AI product was integrated. Regulators want to determine if customers received adequate notice or choice before facing increased charges.
Scope of the inquiry
The Competition and Markets Authority is treating the matter as a potential breach of consumer protection and competition rules. Microsoft has not yet issued a public response to the specific allegations in the filing.
No further details on timelines or requested remedies have been released.
Why it matters
This case tests how software vendors disclose AI add-ons that carry material price effects. Customers who bought Office subscriptions expecting stable terms now face scrutiny over whether those terms were altered without clear consent. If the watchdog finds evidence of misleading conduct, it could set a precedent for how other vendors bundle AI features into existing licenses.
The outcome will also shape Microsoft’s UK revenue model for Copilot, a product the company has positioned as a core growth driver across its productivity line.
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