{
  "id": 6139227,
  "title": "Oracle may be next in EU software licensing hot seat following SAP deal",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/oracle-may-be-next-in-eu-software-licensing-hot-seat-following-sap",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-07T13:56:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Register Software",
    "slug": "the-register-software",
    "url": "https://www.theregister.com/software/2026/09/07/oracle-may-be-next-in-eu-software-licensing-hot-seat-following-sap-deal/5294805"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The European Commission (EC) may soon investigate Oracle's software licensing practices, following its scrutiny of enterprise software vendor SAP. The EC accepted SAP's legally binding commitments to abolish reinstatement fees and reduce back-maintenance fees, among other concessions, in July. Oracle's licensing practices have been under criticism for years, particularly its treatment of Java, which became a proprietary product after Oracle acquired Sun Microsystems in 2009. Oracle's new licensing regime for Oracle Java SE, introduced in January 2023, has drawn industry experts' attention, as it could result in businesses paying significantly higher fees based on employee count. Another criticized licensing mechanism is Oracle's Unlimited License Agreement, which has been accused of offering poor value, limiting user choice, and locking customers in.",
  "summary": "Commission reportedly seeks third-party views, although no formal investigation is underway",
  "key_points": [
    "European Commission may investigate Oracle's licensing practices following SAP case.",
    "Oracle Java SE licensing regime criticized for potential higher fees based on employee count.",
    "Unlimited License Agreement accused of poor value, limited user choice, and customer lock-in."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The European Commission's scrutiny of Oracle's software licensing practices, following its deal with SAP, suggests that Oracle may face pressure to reform its licensing regime and address criticism from industry experts and customers.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}