Episode description

For years, businesses have been “moving to the cloud.” Instead of relying on servers and hardware located at offices, companies are increasingly using third parties like Microsoft and Oracle for their workplace needs—from analyzing sales data to communicating with coworkers. Congress and regulators are increasingly focused on tech policy issues like digital privacy and the size of Big Tech companies. But one area that gets much less attention is our topic today: cloud software licensing. Has software licensing become too restrictive and anti-competitive? If so, how does that impact consumers and businesses? How should policymakers respond? Evan is joined by Ryan Triplette, Executive Director of the Coalition for Fair Software Licensing. 

References:

Report in FedScoop, “Major government tech contractors use monopolistic vendor-lock to drive revenue, study says”

Statement from the Coalition for Fair Software Licensing on a new complaint against Microsoft in Europe