Oracle may be next in EU software licensing hot seat following SAP deal
Commission reportedly seeks third-party views, although no formal investigation is underway
The European Commission (EC) may be preparing to investigate Oracle's software licensing practices, according to recent reports. This comes after the EC concluded an investigation into rival enterprise software firm SAP. The EC accepted legally binding commitments from SAP to abolish reinstatement fees and reduce back-maintenance fees, among other concessions.
Oracle's licensing practices have been under scrutiny for years, with criticism focusing on its treatment of Java, a popular programming language. Oracle acquired Java after purchasing Sun Microsystems in 2009. In January 2023, Oracle announced a new licensing regime for Oracle Java SE, introducing a monthly subscription model that some industry experts consider expensive.
The EC is now seeking input from third parties and monitoring for further anti-competitive practices in the software sector.
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