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Oracle Licensing Practices Draw EU Antitrust Scrutiny

By  |  September 2, 2026
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European Union competition regulators are examining Oracle Corp.’s software licensing practices, adding the U.S. technology company to a growing list of enterprise-software providers facing scrutiny over how customers can switch services or terminate contracts.

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    The European Commission, the EU’s antitrust authority, has been seeking information from third parties about Oracle’s licensing arrangements, according to Reuters, which cited a person familiar with the matter. The information-gathering effort could ultimately lead regulators to pursue a case or conclude that there is insufficient evidence of wrongdoing.

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    The scrutiny remains preliminary. A European Commission spokesperson told Reuters that the regulator continues to watch the sector for potentially anticompetitive or abusive behavior but said there is currently no formal investigation into any company.

    Oracle did not immediately respond to Reuters’ emailed request for comment, according to the news agency. MLex initially reported that EU regulators were looking at the company’s licensing practices.

    The regulatory attention comes shortly after the Commission addressed similar concerns involving German software company SAP SE. In July, SAP offered commitments designed to make it easier for customers to move to competing service providers or terminate contracts, Reuters reported. Those concessions helped SAP avoid the possibility of an antitrust penalty that could have reached as much as 10% of its worldwide annual revenue.

    The Oracle inquiry underscores European regulators’ continuing focus on competition in enterprise technology, where licensing terms can influence how easily corporate customers move between vendors. At this stage, however, the Commission’s requests for information do not amount to a finding that Oracle violated EU competition rules.

    Source: Reuters