EU Commission investigates SAP for alleged anticompetitive practices

BRUSSELS, Sept 25 (KUNA) -- The European Commission has started a probe to determine whether German software maker SAP may have been involved in practices that distorted competition laws, the EU's executive body said on Thursday.
The practices in question deal with the German software giant's use of its popular Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, which runs on customers' own servers within the European Economic Area (EEA), it said in a statement.
The EU Commission has adopted a preliminary assessment summarizing the main facts of the case and identifying its competition concerns, citing that SAP can now submit commitments to address these concerns, added the statement.
Citing the ongoing probe, the statement identified four concerning practices implemented by SAP in the European market, where it is believed to hold a dominant position, including requiring customers to obtain "on-premises maintenance services" directly from SAP, it said. Addressing the matter, the EU's Executive Vice President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition Teresa Ribera expressed "concern" that SAP may have "restricted competition" in the market by leaving European customers with fewer choices and higher costs.
SAP is a Germany-based multinational corporation specializing in software that helps companies manage their operations, including finance, human resources, and project management. (end) arn.nam