Broadcom IncEU regulators are scrutinizing Broadcom's VMware licensing changes and certification requirements, which could restrict its licensing approach in the European cloud market.

European Union officials are examining changes to VMware's licensing model and their potential effect on cloud providers, sending Broadcom shares up 1.5% Friday. The review focuses on whether the revised arrangements could limit customer choice or create difficulties for smaller providers, with officials asking European cloud companies about their reliance on VMware products and how readily they could switch to alternatives. Regulators are also examining new certification requirements tied to VMware subscriptions, and the inquiry comes ahead of a March 31 deadline that could prevent smaller European cloud providers from continuing to sell certain VMware subscriptions. The questions indicate regulators are assessing whether Broadcom's licensing approach could create restrictions within the European cloud market, though the information-gathering process does not by itself indicate that regulators have reached a conclusion on the company's practices. Broadcom completed its acquisition of VMware in 2023, bringing the virtualization software business under its ownership, and VMware products remain widely used by cloud and enterprise customers, making licensing changes an area of interest for European regulators.
Broadcom IncEU regulators are scrutinizing Broadcom's VMware licensing changes and certification requirements, which could restrict its licensing approach in the European cloud market.