The Autorité de la Concurrence announced on November 27, 2025, that it had rejected a complaint lodged by French search engine Qwant, which accused Microsoft of abusing its dominant position in the search and advertising market.
Qwant alleged that Microsoft imposed exclusivity restrictions on search results and advertising, preventing Qwant from developing its own search engine and AI models. The French watchdog, however, concluded that Qwant’s claims lacked “elements sufficiently convincing” to sustain the allegations.
The regulator also declined to grant the interim measures requested by Qwant, which would have temporarily restricted Microsoft’s practices while the case was under review.
Qwant, which relies heavily on Microsoft’s Bing platform for search and news results, had already signaled last month that it expected its complaint to be dismissed. The company has now vowed to challenge the ruling in court or escalate it to other authorities.
Microsoft welcomed the decision, stating: “We agree with the ruling and remain committed to providing high-quality search services and fostering innovation for consumers and partners in France and across Europe.”
Context and Implications
For Microsoft: The dismissal is a significant win, reinforcing its position in Europe’s search and advertising markets. It also reduces immediate regulatory pressure in France, though appeals could prolong the dispute.
For Qwant: The setback highlights the challenges faced by smaller European tech firms in competing against global giants. Qwant’s reliance on Bing underscores its limited independence, raising questions about its long-term viability.
For regulators: The case illustrates the difficulty of proving abuse of dominance in digital markets, where partnerships and dependencies blur competitive boundaries.
Analysts note that while this ruling favors Microsoft, European regulators remain vigilant about Big Tech’s market power, and future cases could still test the limits of dominance in search, cloud, and AI services.
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