SAP avoids EU fine with 10-year antitrust pledges

SAP avoided a European Union fine after the European Commission said the German software company had addressed competition concerns through legally binding commitments.

The commission, the EU's antitrust regulator, opened an investigation into SAP in September over concerns that its practices may have distorted competition in services linked to its business management software.

The commitments will apply worldwide for 10 years. The EU said SAP will allow customers to terminate licences in specific situations, including insolvency or bankruptcy.

EU competition commissioner Teresa Ribera said the decision would give customers more freedom to choose maintenance and support services without restrictions that raised costs and limited competition. She said it should also warn against similar practices in cloud markets.