Microsoft has not been ordered to pay anyone. On 21 April 2026, the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal certified Dr Maria Luisa Stasi’s opt-out collective claim over Windows Server cloud licensing, allowing it to proceed. The claimant estimates damages above £1.7 billion, but certification is not a finding that Microsoft broke the law, proof of loss, or an award.
What the Tribunal decided
The Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) granted a collective proceedings order on an opt-out basis on 21 April 2026. It certified the claim on the terms sought by the proposed class representative, Dr Maria Luisa Stasi. The Tribunal described the claim as apparently viable with a good prospect of success at the certification stage; that assessment addressed whether the case could proceed collectively, not whether the allegations are ultimately true. The CAT’s case materials contain the decision and procedural updates.
Microsoft opposed certification, arguing in part that the claim lacked an adequate blueprint for trial and should not proceed wholly on an opt-out basis. The Tribunal accepted that the proposed theory alleged class-wide losses from overcharges and allowed the case to continue. The claim still has to establish liability and loss through the litigation process.
What the claim alleges about Windows Server licensing
The case concerns the terms under which organisations could run Microsoft Windows Server on cloud services. It names Microsoft Azure and rival providers Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform and Alibaba Cloud. The claimant alleges two practices:
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- Higher wholesale prices for rivals: Microsoft allegedly charged rival cloud providers more for Windows Server under Service Provider License Agreements (SPLAs) than equivalent licence prices charged to Azure users. The claim says rivals passed at least some of those costs on to customers.
- Re-licensing fees on rival clouds: Some organisations with on-premises Windows Server licences allegedly could use the software on Azure without re-licensing fees but had to pay substantial fees to use it on a listed rival cloud.
The claimant says these terms made Azure more attractive and increased costs for organisations that continued to use Windows Server on rival services. These are allegations to be tested in the case, not established findings against Microsoft.
How much is the claim worth—and is there a payout?
Dr Stasi’s 2025 claim form summary estimated aggregate damages at approximately £1.7 billion to £2.1 billion. It attributed about £1.7 billion to alleged SPLA pricing losses for the proposed class and up to £2.1 billion to alleged re-licensing losses for a proposed sub-class. The Tribunal described the application as seeking aggregate damages estimated in excess of £1.7 billion. These are pleaded estimates, not a court-approved valuation, settlement, or payment commitment. The CAT case page is the primary place to check proceedings and filings.
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No compensation has been ordered. The final amount, if any, would depend on what the claim establishes and any subsequent judgment or settlement. The headline figure should therefore be read as the claimant’s estimate of alleged losses, not as money available to claimants now.
Which organisations may be included?
The proposed class covers UK-domiciled organisations that obtained a Windows Server licence from a listed provider during the claim period, which the claimant defined as beginning on 3 December 2018 and ending on the date of judgment. The proposed sub-class concerns class members who held an on-premises Windows Server licence with Software Assurance during the relevant sub-class period.
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The claimant estimated approximately 59,000 proposed class members, as recorded in the Tribunal judgment. That is an estimate, not a confirmed count of eligible organisations. Whether a particular organisation meets the class definition depends on the exact court-approved wording and its licensing and provider history.
- Check whether the organisation was UK-domiciled.
- Identify whether it obtained Windows Server licences from Azure, AWS, Google Cloud Platform or Alibaba Cloud, and the relevant dates.
- For the proposed sub-class, check whether it held an on-premises Windows Server licence with Software Assurance during the specified period.
These points can help an organisation assess whether the case may be relevant; they are not a definitive eligibility test or legal advice. The court materials control the claim definition and any exclusions.
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What opt-out means
An opt-out order allows the case to proceed on behalf of eligible class members without each organisation having to join individually at the outset. It does not mean every organisation with a Windows Server licence automatically qualifies, nor does it guarantee compensation. The governing class definition and any later directions from the Tribunal determine how membership and any rights to claim are handled.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How the CMA’s findings relate to the lawsuit
The CAT judgment recounts findings from the Competition and Markets Authority’s earlier cloud market investigation. The CMA said Microsoft’s licensing practices materially disadvantaged AWS and Google in relation to Windows Server and SQL Server, with some input costs passed on to customers. That regulatory context helps explain the dispute, but it is distinct from this damages claim: the CAT still has to determine the allegations and any loss in these proceedings.
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- Brilliant Display – Stunning 13.8" PixelSense touchscreen[1], with brilliant LCD display[2], unleashes luminous whites, deeper blacks and colors so richly saturated bringing vivid life into every frame – perfect for work, school, streaming and creative tasks.
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- The ports you need – Charge on-the-go, transfer data fast, or create the ultimate desktop set up with two USB-C / USB4[4] ports.
- Built-in AI Companion – Work smarter, create freely, and communicate with confidence—Copilot[5] on Windows 11 is always there to help.
The CMA is also conducting a separate strategic market status investigation into Microsoft’s business software ecosystem. Its indicative timetable envisages a proposed-decision consultation in October 2026 and a final decision report and SMS decision notice by February 2027, with a statutory decision deadline of 13 February 2027; those dates may change. A separate CMA consumer-protection investigation concerns communications before renewal for Microsoft 365 Personal and Family plans, including plan changes and Copilot features. The CMA says that it has made no infringement finding in that matter. Neither investigation is the Stasi Windows Server damages case.
What happens next
Microsoft’s application for permission to appeal the certification decision was refused at a 20 May 2026 hearing, and Microsoft renewed its application before the Court of Appeal. The CAT case page lists the next case management conference for 4 December 2026. Appellate status and hearing dates can change, so consult the live case page for the latest procedural position.
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