EU Commission Eyes Oracle Licensing Practices After SAP Settlement Scrutiny

After concluding its SAP investigation with legally binding commitments on reinstatement and back-maintenance fees, the European Commission has shifted focus to Oracle's software licensing practices. According to a source, the commission is now soliciting views from third parties as an early step, but it confirmed that no formal investigation is underway. Oracle's licensing schemes, such as the per-employee Java SE Universal Subscription and the Unlimited License Agreement, have been repeatedly criticized for high costs and restrictive lock-in.

The vendor defends these arrangements as offering flexibility and value to customers. This scrutiny forms part of the EU's broader effort to address anti-competitive behaviour in the enterprise-software sector.