COMCO Secretariat reviews Microsoft's recent Software Licence Price Increases

The Swiss competition authorities are focusing on Microsoft’s pricing practices as a key IT provider in Switzerland. The focus is on repeated price increases for software licences, which are of vital importance to many businesses and public bodies. According to a press release dated 15 January 2026, the Secretariat of the Competition Commission (COMCO) has launched a preliminary investigation into the matter.

Backround

The preliminary investigation was triggered by complaints alleging that Microsoft has recently implemented numerous and, in some cases, substantial price increases in Switzerland. This particularly affects licences for Microsoft 365, a product widely used by private companies and the public sector. According to media reports, the price increases range from 10–17 per cent depending on the licence, and in some cases for private individuals they are as high as 43 per cent. Microsoft justifies the increases, amongst other things, by citing the integration of AI functions and additional security features.

Next steps

The preliminary investigation is an informal procedure. Its purpose is to determine whether there are concrete indications of conduct in breach of competition law. The COMCO Secretariat is now examining whether Microsoft’s price adjustments constitute grounds for unlawful restrictions on competition within the meaning of the Competition Act and whether the opening of a formal investigation is justified.

A preliminary investigation is, in principle, open-ended and may be concluded either with or without a settlement agreement or – if there are sufficient grounds – may be escalated to a full investigation.

According to the press release, the COMCO Secretariat is also drawing on the technical support of the Price Commissioner (in German, Italian and French only) as part of this preliminary investigation.

Key takeaways

The outcome of the preliminary investigation is highly relevant for many companies in Switzerland. Software licences, particularly those from providers with significant market power, are often a key cost factor and are difficult to replace at short notice. The widespread use of Microsoft 365 by businesses and public authorities reinforces lock-in and amplifies the practical impact of price adjustments. Companies should therefore critically review their dependencies on key IT providers, contract structures and price adjustment clauses, and closely monitor further developments.

The press release can be found here.