The FTC plans to investigate Microsoft Corporation's (MSFT.US) anti-competitive behavior in its cloud computing business.

According to sources, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is preparing to investigate the anti-competitive practices of Microsoft Corporation's cloud computing business. Sources said that the agency is looking into allegations that the software giant may be abusing its market power in the productivity software field by implementing punitive licensing terms to prevent customers from transferring their data from Azure cloud services to other competing platforms. The report stated that the tactics under review include significantly increasing subscription fees for departing users, charging hefty exit fees, and allegedly making its Office 365 products incompatible with competitors' clouds. FTC declined to comment, and Microsoft Corporation did not immediately respond to requests for comment.