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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Microsoft was not newly “charged” in 2026. The European Commission issued preliminary antitrust objections in June 2024, then closed the proceedings in September 2025 after accepting legally binding commitments. The outcome addressed alleged Teams bundling through unbundled Microsoft 365 and Office 365 options, interoperability measures and data-portability rights—not a conventional final infringement verdict or a reported fine.
What the EU alleged
The Commission examined whether Microsoft used a dominant position in business productivity software to give Teams an unfair advantage in the adjacent market for communication and collaboration tools. Its theory concerned possible abuse of dominance under Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and Article 54 of the EEA Agreement.
- Tying: Teams was included with Office 365 and Microsoft 365 suites containing applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
- Distribution advantage: Customers could receive Teams automatically with a productivity subscription, reducing the need to make a separate collaboration-platform choice.
- Limited choice: The Commission said customers had difficulty obtaining the relevant productivity suites without Teams during the period examined.
- Interoperability: The Commission also examined whether competing collaboration products could work effectively with Microsoft services and whether customers could move their data.
Bundling is not automatically illegal. The competition concern was whether Microsoft’s alleged conduct could foreclose rivals, restrict customer choice or make competing products less viable.
How the case developed
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| July 14, 2020 | Slack Technologies filed an antitrust complaint with the Commission. Slack is a Salesforce subsidiary. Commission background |
| July 27, 2023 | The Commission opened formal proceedings concerning Teams’ inclusion in Office 365 and Microsoft 365 business suites. Proceedings notice |
| 2023 | Microsoft introduced some no-Teams suites in the EEA at a lower price. |
| June 25, 2024 | The Commission issued a Statement of Objections, expressing its preliminary view that Microsoft had abused its dominant position through tying. Statement of Objections summary |
| 2024 | Microsoft expanded no-Teams suite options globally, according to the Commission’s later case summary. |
| April 28, 2025 | Microsoft formally offered commitments. |
| May 16, 2025 | The Commission published a market-test notice seeking comments on the proposed commitments. |
| July 31, 2025 | Slack withdrew its complaint, according to the final Official Journal summary. |
| September 12, 2025 | The Commission accepted Microsoft’s commitments in Cases AT.40721 and AT.40873, making them legally binding and closing the proceedings through the commitments process. Final decision |
What Microsoft agreed to do
Sell suites without Teams
Microsoft must make relevant Microsoft 365 and Office 365 suites available without Teams at a reduced price. The remedy separates the productivity applications from the collaboration product, allowing customers to choose whether to license Teams.
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- SUPPORT WORK FROM ANYWHERE WITH SYNC: Whether employees are in the office, at home, or somewhere else, Sync device management software helps everyone stay connected by letting you ensure their Logitech video collaboration personal devices are being used and up to date.
- Open workspaces are great for collaboration, but not so great when the noise around you makes it hard to concentrate. Active noise cancellation substantially reduces unwanted ambient sound, so you can get focused and stay focused.
- Great for Music and Talking with immersive sound for listening to music and a noise-canceling mic that ensures that your voice is heard on the other end of a call—not the noise around you.
- On ear controls to adjust volume, start/end calls, and invoke Teams. Plus button controls for power, active noise cancellation (ANC), wireless Bluetooth pairing, and mute on/off or use the flip-to-mute mic feature.
- Certified for Microsoft Teams ensures it’s easy to pick-up or answer Teams meetings, calls, messages, and notifications with a single press to the Teams button. Or apply a longer touch to invoke Cortana voice skills.
Permit certain license switches
Customers holding certain long-term licenses can switch to eligible suites without Teams. This is not a universal right for every contract, edition or customer, so eligibility must be confirmed with Microsoft or the licensing partner.
Improve interoperability
The commitments require interoperability for key functionality between competing communication and collaboration tools and specified Microsoft products. They do not promise unrestricted compatibility with every Teams feature or every rival service.
Enable data portability
Customers must be able to move data out of Teams to support migration to another provider. Export access is not the same as a perfect transfer: message history, permissions, recordings, compliance records and workflow integrations may require separate planning.
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- Handy In-line Controls: Simple in-line controls on the headset cable let you adjust the volume or mute calls without disruption
- Plug-and-Play USB Computer Headset: Simply plug the USB-A connector into your computer and you’re ready to talk or listen without the need to install software
- Padded Comfort: Comfortable headphones with adjustable headband features swivel-mounted, leatherette ear cushions for hours of comfort and is easy to clean
Run for seven years or more
The Commission described the commitments as binding for seven years or more. That duration describes the remedies, not a finding that Microsoft was legally “guilty” for seven years.
Was Microsoft found guilty or fined?
No final infringement finding or fine is reported in this commitments resolution. A Statement of Objections is a preliminary assessment: Microsoft had an opportunity to respond, and the Commission had not yet made a final liability decision in June 2024. In September 2025, the Commission accepted Microsoft’s commitments instead of issuing a conventional infringement decision imposing a fine.
It is therefore inaccurate to describe this outcome as a conviction, a private damages award to Slack or a court judgment. Slack’s complaint triggered the regulatory process, but the published resolution does not report compensation to Slack.
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- CRYSTAL-CLEAR CALLS: Hear and be heard clearly with advanced noise-canceling microphones for seamless communication.
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- EFFORTLESS SETUP: Simply plug into your laptop via USB-A or USB-C for instant use, plus easy call and volume controls for smooth call management.
- ONLINE MEETINGS THAT JUST WORK: Works with all leading online meeting platforms and certified for Microsoft Teams.
- SOLID SOUND: Powerful 28mm speakers deliver richer sound for a better audio experience.
Which plans and customers are covered?
The legal obligations arise from EU/EEA competition proceedings. Microsoft also announced broader global commercial changes, but those commercial offerings are not identical to the legal commitments.
The Official Journal summary says frontline-worker suites were not covered by the Final Commitments, although the Commission considered Microsoft’s global announcements about frontline-worker suites without Teams when assessing effectiveness. Business, enterprise, frontline, education, government and nonprofit editions can have different rules.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallMicrosoft’s U.S. business page currently displays separate “with Teams” and “without Teams” categories, but prices and packaging vary by country, plan, edition, billing term, customer size and contract. See Microsoft’s business plans and pricing for current U.S. listings; do not use U.S. prices as evidence of the EEA remedy’s exact price difference.
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- Microsoft Teams Certified & UC Optimized: Ensure crystal-clear communication with Microsoft Teams Open Office certification and UC platform compatibility, perfect for hybrid workspaces and virtual meetings. Use of USB-A receiver required for all Microsoft Teams functionality.
- Bluetooth 5.3 & Multipoint Technology: Seamlessly switch between two devices with dual Bluetooth connections or use the USB-A receiver for plug-and-play convenience
- Advanced Noise Cancellation: Three-mic noise suppression technology blocks distractions, delivering unmatched audio clarity for professional calls or casual gaming
- Ergonomic & Lightweight Design: At only 140g, the headset features adjustable memory foam earcups and a flexible headband for extended comfort during long workdays or gaming sessions
- Unmatched Battery Life: Stay powered with up to 31 hours of talk time or 60 hours of music playback on a single charge, ensuring productivity and entertainment without interruptions
What customers should check before changing licenses
- Identify your contract: Record the exact Microsoft 365 or Office 365 edition, billing term, renewal date, reseller and geographic market.
- Ask for the no-Teams equivalent: Confirm that the same productivity applications and service limits are included and obtain the price in writing.
- Check switching eligibility: If you hold a long-term or enterprise agreement, ask whether its terms qualify for a switch.
- Map dependencies: Review SharePoint, OneDrive, Outlook, Bookings, Shifts, identity, security, compliance and device-management workflows that may reference Teams.
- Inventory Teams usage: Include telephony, meetings, webinars, recording, external guests, apps, bots, channels and automated workflows.
- Test export and migration: Establish what chats, files, recordings, metadata, retention labels and permissions can be exported and how they will be preserved.
- Price the replacement: A cheaper no-Teams suite may still require a separate Slack, Zoom, Webex or other collaboration subscription, plus administration and integration work.
Does unbundling make Slack, Zoom or Webex cheaper?
Not automatically. Removing Teams from a Microsoft productivity license separates two charges; it does not eliminate Microsoft identity, storage, document collaboration, security or compliance dependencies. A realistic comparison includes the replacement platform and the cost of running two ecosystems.
| Option | Typical reason to consider it | Costs or trade-offs to examine |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 without Teams | Keep Office applications and Microsoft services while licensing collaboration separately or not at all. | Teams dependencies, identity and compliance integration, and any separate collaboration license. |
| Microsoft Teams Essentials | Use standalone Teams collaboration without a full Microsoft 365 productivity suite. | Feature limits, telephony, governance and the need for advanced Office applications. |
| Slack | Channel-based messaging and a broad non-Microsoft integration ecosystem. | Duplicate storage, identity, compliance and administration; current pricing and limits should be verified directly. |
| Zoom Workplace | Meetings, video conferencing, webinars and collaboration. | Additional integration work for document, email, identity and SharePoint-centered workflows. |
| Cisco Webex | Meetings, calling, contact center and Cisco ecosystem integration. | Potentially heavier enterprise administration and cost for smaller organizations. |
Compare chat and channels, meetings, external guests, voice, file collaboration, single sign-on, retention and e-discovery, APIs, export tools, mobile support, security administration and total cost—not just the headline subscription price.
What the decision means for competitors and procurement
The commitments can make it easier for competing platforms to reach customers that want Microsoft productivity software without Teams. Interoperability and portability may reduce practical barriers to migration. Microsoft’s broader identity, security and document ecosystem can still create significant switching costs, even when Teams is purchased separately.
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- Comfortable on-ear design with lightweight, padded earcups for all-day wear.
- Background noise-reducing microphone.
- High-quality stereo speakers optimized for voice.
- Mute control with status light. Easily see, at a glance, whether you can be heard or not.
- Convenient call controls, including mute, volume, and the Teams button, are in-line and easy to reach.
For procurement teams, the decision creates a stronger basis for requesting a genuine no-Teams quote and documenting alternative-platform requirements. It does not require a company to leave Teams, endorse Slack, Zoom or Webex, or guarantee that every competing feature will interoperate with Microsoft products.
Bottom line
The accurate current description is: the EU alleged that Microsoft’s Teams bundling raised antitrust concerns, issued preliminary objections in 2024, and accepted legally binding unbundling, interoperability and portability commitments in 2025. Customers should verify their plan, region, contract and migration needs before assuming that a no-Teams license or a competing platform will lower their overall technology bill.
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