Editing Microsoft (section)

==Corporate identity==
===Corporate culture===
Technical references for developers and articles for various Microsoft magazines such as ''[[Microsoft Systems Journal]]'' (''MSJ'') are available through the [[Microsoft Developer Network]] (MSDN). MSDN also offers subscriptions for companies and individuals, and the more expensive subscriptions usually offer access to pre-release beta versions of Microsoft software.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/ms123402.aspx?missingurl=%2fsubscriptions%2ffaq%2fdefault.aspx |publisher=Microsoft |title=MSDN Subscription FAQ |access-date=July 3, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090112083150/http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/ms123402.aspx?missingurl=%2Fsubscriptions%2Ffaq%2Fdefault.aspx |archive-date=January 12, 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.microsoft.com/msj/ |title=Microsoft Systems Journal Homepage |publisher=Microsoft |date=April 15, 2004 |access-date=August 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725152056/http://www.microsoft.com/msj/ |archive-date=July 25, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In April 2004, Microsoft launched a community site for developers and users, titled [[Channel 9 (Microsoft)|Channel 9]], that provides a [[wiki]] and an [[Internet forum]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hobson |first=Neville |url=http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/2005/04/11/microsofts-channel-and-cultural-rules |title=Microsoft's Channel 9 And Cultural Rules |work=WebProNews |publisher=iEntry Inc |date=April 11, 2005 |access-date=July 3, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420185313/http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/2005/04/11/microsofts-channel-and-cultural-rules |archive-date=April 20, 2008}}</ref> Another community site that provides daily [[Podcast#Video podcasts|videocasts]] and other services, On10.net, launched on March 3, 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.On10.net |title=On10.net homepage |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=May 4, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060428070407/http://www.on10.net/ |archive-date=April 28, 2006}}</ref> Free technical support is traditionally provided through online [[Usenet]] newsgroups, and [[CompuServe]] in the past, monitored by Microsoft employees; there can be several newsgroups for a single product. Helpful people can be elected by peers or Microsoft employees for [[Microsoft Most Valuable Professional]] (MVP) status, which entitles them to a sort of special social status and possibilities for awards and other benefits.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.boston.com/business/globe/articles/2005/06/13/somehow_usenet_lumbers_on/ |title=Somehow, Usenet lumbers on |last=Bray |first=Hiawatha |date=June 13, 2005 |access-date=July 3, 2006 |work=The Boston Globe |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090322135139/http://www.boston.com/business/globe/articles/2005/06/13/somehow_usenet_lumbers_on |archive-date=March 22, 2009}}</ref>

Noted for its internal [[lexicon]], the expression "[[eating your own dog food]]" is used to describe the policy of using pre-release and beta versions of products inside Microsoft to test them in "real-world" situations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Microsoft tests its own dog food |url=http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-5047467.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070108214545/http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-5047467.html |archive-date=January 8, 2007 |work=[[ZDNet]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |date=July 21, 2003 |access-date=October 9, 2005}}</ref> This is usually shortened to just "dog food" and is used as a noun, verb, and adjective. Another bit of [[jargon]], [[FYIFV]] or FYIV ("[[Fuck]] You, I'm [Fully] Vested"), is used by an employee to indicate they are [[financial independence|financially independent]] and can avoid work anytime they wish.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Heilemann |first=John |author-link=John Heilemann |title=The Truth, The Whole Truth, and Nothing But The Truth |url=https://www.wired.com/2000/11/microsoft-7/ |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]  |date=November 2000 |access-date=September 30, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724133013/http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/8.11/microsoft_pr.html |archive-date=July 24, 2008}}</ref>

Microsoft is an outspoken opponent of the cap on [[H-1B visa]]s, which allows companies in the U.S. to employ certain foreign workers. Bill Gates claims the cap on H1B visas makes it difficult to hire employees for the company, stating "I'd certainly get rid of the H1B cap" in 2005.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article.php/3500986 |title=Gates Rakes Congress on H1B Visa Cap |last=Mark |first=Roy |work=internetnews.com |date=April 27, 2005 |access-date=August 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610153421/http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article.php/3500986 |archive-date=June 10, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> Critics of H1B visas argue that relaxing the limits would result in increased unemployment for U.S. citizens due to H1B workers working for lower salaries.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=88154016 |title=Bill Gates Targets Visa Rules for Tech Workers |work=NPR |date=March 12, 2008 |access-date=July 6, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100424010916/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=88154016 |archive-date=April 24, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Human Rights Campaign]] Corporate Equality Index, a report of how progressive the organization deems company policies towards [[LGBT]] employees, rated Microsoft as 87% from 2002 to 2004 and as 100% from 2005 to 2010 after they allowed gender expression.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Corporate Equality Index Archive |url=http://www.hrc.org/about_us/7115.htm |publisher=Human Rights Campaign Foundation |access-date=July 17, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100703003315/http://www.hrc.org/about_us/7115.htm |archive-date=July 3, 2010}}</ref>

In August 2018, Microsoft implemented a policy for all companies providing subcontractors to require 12 weeks of paid parental leave to each employee. This expands on the former requirement from 2015 requiring 15 days of paid vacation and sick leave each year.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Dreyfuss |first1=Emily |title=Will Others Follow Microsoft's Lead on Paid Parental Leave? |url=https://www.wired.com/story/will-others-follow-microsoft-on-paid-parental-leave/ |access-date=September 1, 2018 |publisher=WIRED |date=August 31, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180901114448/https://www.wired.com/story/will-others-follow-microsoft-on-paid-parental-leave/ |archive-date=September 1, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015, Microsoft established its own parental leave policy to allow 12 weeks off for parental leave with an additional 8 weeks for the parent who gave birth.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kastrenakes |first1=Jacob |title=Microsoft says its US contractors must offer paid parental leave |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/31/17806726/microsoft-supplier-paid-parental-leave-requirement |access-date=September 1, 2018 |website=The Verge |date=August 31, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180901155850/https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/31/17806726/microsoft-supplier-paid-parental-leave-requirement |archive-date=September 1, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Environment===
In 2011, [[Greenpeace]] released a report rating the top ten big brands in [[cloud computing]] on their sources of electricity for their [[data center]]s. At the time, data centers consumed up to 2% of all global electricity, and this amount was projected to increase. [[Phil Radford]] of Greenpeace said, "We are concerned that this new explosion in electricity use could lock us into old, polluting energy sources instead of the clean energy available today",<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=[[Greenpeace]] |url=http://www.greenpeace.org/international/Global/international/publications/climate/2011/Cool%20IT/dirty-data-report-greenpeace.pdf |title=Dirty Data Report Card |access-date=August 22, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130910205409/http://www.greenpeace.org/international/Global/international/publications/climate/2011/Cool%20IT/dirty-data-report-greenpeace.pdf |archive-date=September 10, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> and called on "Amazon, Microsoft and other leaders of the information-technology industry must embrace clean energy to power their cloud-based data centers".<ref>[http://seattletimes.com/html/opinion/2018176038_guest10radford.html "Amazon, Microsoft: Let's keep 'the cloud' clean"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204074032/http://seattletimes.com/html/opinion/2018176038_guest10radford.html |date=December 4, 2013}}, Phil Radford</ref> In 2013, Microsoft agreed to buy power generated by a Texas wind project to power one of its data centers.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/nov/04/microsoft-wind-powered-data-centre "Microsoft looks to boost eco credentials with wind-powered data centre"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106175010/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/nov/04/microsoft-wind-powered-data-centre |date=January 6, 2017}}, Suzanne Goldenberg</ref>

Microsoft is ranked on the 17th place in Greenpeace's ''Guide to Greener Electronics'' (16th Edition) that ranks 18 electronics manufacturers according to their policies on toxic chemicals, recycling, and climate change.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/climate-change/cool-it/Guide-to-Greener-Electronics/Previous-Edition-October-2010/ |title=Guide to Greener Electronics&nbsp;– Greenpeace International (16th Edition) |publisher=Greenpeace International |access-date=April 3, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331130430/http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/climate-change/cool-it/Guide-to-Greener-Electronics/Previous-Edition-October-2010/ |archive-date=March 31, 2012}}</ref> Microsoft's timeline for phasing out [[brominated flame retardant]] (BFRs) and [[phthalate]]s in all products was 2012 but its commitment to phasing out [[Polyvinyl chloride|PVC]] is not clear. {{As of|2011|01|post=,}} it has no products that are completely free from PVC and BFRs.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.greenpeace.org/international/Global/international/publications/toxics/2010/version16/Ranking%20tables%20Oct%202010-Microsoft.pdf |title=Ranking tables October 2010&nbsp;– Greenpeace International |publisher=Greenpeace International |access-date=January 24, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110128162332/http://www.greenpeace.org/international/Global/international/publications/toxics/2010/version16/Ranking%20tables%20Oct%202010-Microsoft.pdf |archive-date=January 28, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{update inline|date=March 2024}}

Microsoft's main U.S. campus received a silver certification from the [[Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design]] (LEED) program in 2008, and it installed over 2,000 [[solar panel]]s on top of its buildings at its [[Silicon Valley]] campus, generating approximately 15 percent of the total energy needed by the facilities in April 2005.<ref name="news1">{{Cite web |url=http://news.cnet.com/Microsoft-vs.-Google-Whos-greener/2100-1022_3-6080297.html?tag=mncol;txt |title=Microsoft vs. Google: Who's greener? |work=CNET |publisher=CBS Interactive |last=Mills |first=Elinor |date=June 6, 2008 |access-date=July 3, 2010}}</ref> Microsoft makes use of alternative forms of transit. It created one of the world's largest private bus systems, the "Connector", to transport people from outside the company; for on-campus transportation, the "Shuttle Connect" uses a large fleet of hybrid cars to save fuel. The "Connector" does not compete with the public bus system and works with it to provide a cohesive transportation network not just for its employees but also for the public.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Garrett |first=Mark |title=Encyclopedia of Transportation: Social Science and Policy |publisher=SAGE Publications |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-4833-4651-9 |location=Los Angeles, CA |pages=390 |language=en}}</ref>

Microsoft also subsidizes regional [[public transport]], provided by [[Sound Transit]] and [[King County Metro]], as an incentive.<ref name="news1" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.microsoft.com/environment/our_commitment/articles/alternative_commuting.aspx |title=Fostering Alternative Ways to Commute at Microsoft |publisher=Microsoft |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501154211/http://www.microsoft.com/environment/our_commitment/articles/alternative_commuting.aspx |archive-date=May 1, 2008}}</ref> In February 2010, however, Microsoft took a stance against adding additional public transport and [[high-occupancy vehicle lane|high-occupancy vehicle]] (HOV) lanes to the [[Washington State Route 520|State Route 520]] and [[Evergreen Point Floating Bridge|its floating bridge]] connecting Redmond to Seattle; the company did not want to delay the construction any further.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.king5.com/news/Microsofts-big-520-advertisement-85031317.html |work=King5 Television News |title=Seattle hires consultant to look at 520 bridge plan |date=February 23, 2010 |access-date=July 3, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100226123840/http://www.king5.com/news/Microsofts-big-520-advertisement-85031317.html |archive-date=February 26, 2010 }}</ref> Microsoft was ranked number 1 in the list of the World's Best Multinational Workplaces by the Great Place to Work Institute in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/microsoftpri0/2016631709_microsoft_named_best_multinational_workplace_by_gr.html |title=Microsoft Pri0 &#124; Microsoft named best multinational workplace |publisher=Seattle Times Newspaper |date=October 28, 2011 |access-date=November 3, 2011 |first=Janet I. |last=Tu |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120711115601/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/microsoftpri0/2016631709_microsoft_named_best_multinational_workplace_by_gr.html |archive-date=July 11, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In January 2020, the company announced a strategy to take the company [[Carbon footprint|carbon negative]] by 2030 and to [[Carbon dioxide removal|remove all carbon]] that it has emitted since its foundation in 1975.<ref>{{cite news|last=Domonoske|first=Camila|date=January 16, 2020|title=Microsoft Pledges To Remove From The Atmosphere All The Carbon It Has Ever Emitted|publisher=NPR|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/01/16/796758230/microsoft-pledges-to-remove-from-the-atmosphere-all-the-carbon-its-ever-emitted|access-date=July 14, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Calma|first=Justine|date=January 16, 2020|title=Microsoft wants to capture all of the carbon dioxide it's ever emitted|website=The Verge|publisher=Vox Media|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/1/16/21068799/microsoft-carbon-capture-climate-change|access-date=July 14, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Calma|first=Justine|date=January 28, 2021|title=Microsoft made a giant climate pledge one year ago — here's where it's at now|website=The Verge|publisher=Vox Media|url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/28/22254483/microsoft-climate-change-pledge-update-carbon-dioxide-removal|access-date=July 14, 2022}}</ref> On October 9, 2020, Microsoft permanently allowed [[remote work]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/microsofts-work-from-home-to-become-permanent |last=Ciaccia |first=Chris |title=Microsoft's work-from-home policy to become permanent  |website=[[FOX Business]] |date=October 9, 2020}}</ref> In January 2021, the company announced on [[Twitter]] to join the [[Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact]], which engages the cloud infrastructure and data centers industries to reach [[carbon neutrality]] in Europe by 2030, and also disclosed an investment in [[Climeworks]], a [[direct air capture]] company partnered with [[Carbfix]] for [[carbon sequestration]].{{refn|group=list|name=MicrosoftClimeworks|<ref>{{cite news|last=Geman|first=Ben|date=January 28, 2021|title=Microsoft backs direct air capture player Climeworks|website=Axios|url=https://www.axios.com/2021/01/28/microsoft-climate-change-climeworks-carbon|access-date=July 14, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Calma|first=Justine|date=September 9, 2021|title=How the largest direct air capture plant will suck {{CO2}} out of the atmosphere|website=The Verge|publisher=Vox Media|url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/9/22663597/largest-direct-air-capture-plant-c02-climeworks-iceland|access-date=July 14, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Joppa|first1=Lucas|last2=Luers|first2=Amy|last3=Willmott|first3=Elizabeth|last4=Friedmann|first4=S. Julio|last5=Hamburg|first5=Steven P.|last6=Broze|first6=Rafael|date=September 29, 2021|title=Microsoft's million-tonne {{CO2}}-removal purchase — lessons for net zero|journal=[[Nature (journal)|Nature]]|volume=597|issue=7878 |pages=629–632|doi=10.1038/d41586-021-02606-3 |bibcode=2021Natur.597..629J |s2cid=238229298 |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02606-3|access-date=July 14, 2022 |issn=0028-0836}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Brabant|first=Malcolm|title=To combat climate change, these scientists are turning CO2 into rock|date=August 23, 2016|work=PBS NewsHour|publisher=WETA-TV|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/combat-climate-change-scientists-turning-co2-rock|access-date=July 18, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Clifford|first=Catherine|date=June 28, 2022|title=From milligrams to gigatons: Startup that sucks carbon dioxide from the air is building a big plant in Iceland|publisher=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/28/climeworks-carbon-dioxide-removal-company-building-iceland-plant.html|access-date=November 27, 2022}}</ref>}} In the same year, it was awarded the EPA's Green Power Leadership Award, citing the company's [[100% renewable energy|all-renewable energy use]] since 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |last=US EPA |first=OAR |date=May 14, 2021 |title=Green Power Leadership Awardees |url=https://www.epa.gov/greenpower/green-power-leadership-awardees |access-date=June 29, 2023 |website=www.epa.gov |language=en}}</ref>

In September 2023, Microsoft announced that it purchased $200 million in [[Carbon offsets and credits|carbon credits to offset]] 315,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide over 10 years from Heirloom Carbon, a carbon removal company that mixes [[calcium oxide]] from heated crushed [[limestone]] with [[water]] to form [[Orthocarbonic acid|carbon hydroxide]] to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to [[Mineralization (soil science)|mineralize]] back into limestone while the released carbon dioxide is [[Carbon capture and storage|stored underground]] or [[Environmental impact of concrete#Carbon concrete|injected into concrete]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ramkumar|first1=Amrith|date=September 7, 2023|title=Microsoft Will Use Carbon-Absorbing Rocks to Meet Climate Goals|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/us-news/climate-environment/microsoft-will-use-carbon-absorbing-rocks-to-meet-climate-goals-57ea802a|access-date=September 7, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Olick|first=Diana|date=December 5, 2022|title=Microsoft-backed start-up Heirloom uses limestone to capture CO2|publisher=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/05/microsoft-backed-start-up-heirloom-uses-limestone-to-capture-co2.html|access-date=September 12, 2023}}</ref> Despite spending spent more than $760 million through its Climate Innovation Fund by June 2024 on sustainability projects—including purchases of more than 5 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide removal with carbon offsets and more than 34 megawatts of renewable energy—Microsoft's [[Carbon accounting|Scope 3 emissions]] had increased by 31% from the company's 2020 baseline, which caused the company's total emissions to rise by 29% in 2023.<ref>{{cite news|last=Cleveland-Peck|first=Perry|date=June 26, 2024|title=Microsoft Wrestles With Rising Emissions From AI Ahead of Its 2030 Carbon-Negative Goal|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/microsoft-wrestles-with-rising-emissions-from-ai-ahead-of-its-2030-net-zero-goal-b53d4cf4|access-date=June 26, 2024}}</ref>

In 2023 Microsoft consumed 24 TWh of electricity, more than countries such as Iceland, Ghana, the Dominican Republic, or Tunisia.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hale |first1=Craig |title=Google and Microsoft now each consume more power than some fairly big countries |url=https://www.techradar.com/pro/google-and-microsoft-now-each-consume-more-power-than-some-fairly-big-countries |work=TechRadar |date=15 July 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

===Headquarters===
[[File:Building92microsoft.jpg|thumb|Building 92, home to the Microsoft Visitor Center]]
The corporate headquarters, informally known as the [[Microsoft Redmond campus]], is located at One Microsoft Way in Redmond, Washington. Microsoft initially moved onto the grounds of the campus on February 26, 1986, weeks before the company went public on March 13. The headquarters has since experienced multiple expansions since its establishment. It is estimated to encompass over 8&nbsp;million ft<sup>2</sup> (750,000&nbsp;m<sup>2</sup>) of office space and 30,000–40,000 employees.<ref>[https://www.microsoft.com/presspass/inside_ms.mspx Fast Facts About Microsoft] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070809015659/http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/inside_ms.mspx |date=August 9, 2007}}. Microsoft.com. Retrieved on August 25, 2013.</ref> Additional offices are located in [[Bellevue, Washington|Bellevue]] and [[Issaquah, Washington]] (90,000 employees worldwide). The company is planning to upgrade its Mountain View, California, campus on a grand scale. The company has occupied this campus since 1981. In 2016, the company bought the {{convert|32|acre|adj=on}} campus, with plans to renovate and expand it by 25%.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Microsoft To Buy, Expand Mountain View Campus |url=https://www.bisnow.com/silicon-valley/news/office/microsoft-to-buy-expand-mountain-view-campus-54959 |first=Allison |last=Nagel |work=[[Bisnow Media]] |date=January 25, 2016 |access-date=February 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190204074800/https://www.bisnow.com/silicon-valley/news/office/microsoft-to-buy-expand-mountain-view-campus-54959 |archive-date=February 4, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> Microsoft operates an East Coast headquarters in [[Charlotte, North Carolina]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://safway.com/Projects/Commercial/microsoft.asp?timeline=renovation |title=Microsoft East Coast Headquarters—Safway Services |website=safway.com |access-date=March 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329050044/http://safway.com/Projects/Commercial/microsoft.asp?timeline=renovation |archive-date=March 29, 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In April 2024, it was announced that Microsoft would be opening a state-of-the-art artificial intelligence 'hub' around Paddington in London, England. It was announced that the division would be led by Jordan Hoffman, who previously worked for [[Google DeepMind|Deepmind]] and [[Inflection AI|Inflection]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Guy |date=2024-04-08 |title=London set for AI tech boost as Microsoft to open state-of-the-art Paddington hub |url=https://www.cityam.com/london-set-for-ai-tech-boost-as-microsoft-to-open-state-of-the-art-paddington-hub/ |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=CityAM |language=en-GB}}</ref>

===Flagship stores===
[[File:TorontoMicrosoftStore8.JPG|thumb|Microsoft's [[Toronto]] flagship store]]

On October 26, 2015, the company opened its retail location on Fifth Avenue in New York City. The location features a five-story glass storefront and is 22,270 square feet.<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Your First Look at Microsoft's Massive New Flagship Store |url=https://www.wired.com/2015/10/microsofts-hands-on-flagship-store-opens-on-fifth-avenue/ |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]  |access-date=October 27, 2015 |date=October 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151027110340/http://www.wired.com/2015/10/microsofts-hands-on-flagship-store-opens-on-fifth-avenue/ |archive-date=October 27, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> As per company executives, Microsoft had been on the lookout for a flagship location since 2009.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Morris |first=Keiko |title=Microsoft Opens Flagship Store on Fifth Avenue |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/microsoft-opens-flagship-store-on-fifth-avenue-1445823629 |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=October 26, 2015 |access-date=October 27, 2015 |issn=0099-9660 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151026172634/http://www.wsj.com/articles/microsoft-opens-flagship-store-on-fifth-avenue-1445823629 |archive-date=October 26, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> The company's retail locations are part of a greater strategy to help build a connection with its consumers. The opening of the store coincided with the launch of the Surface Book and Surface Pro 4.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Microsoft opens the doors to its New York City flagship store |url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/10/26/9617520/microsoft-store-nyc-opening-fifth-avenue-flagship |website=The Verge |date=October 26, 2015 |access-date=October 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151026221011/http://www.theverge.com/2015/10/26/9617520/microsoft-store-nyc-opening-fifth-avenue-flagship |archive-date=October 26, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> On November 12, 2015, Microsoft opened a second flagship store, located in Sydney's Pitt Street Mall.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-to-open-flagship-store-in-sydney/ |title=Microsoft to open a flagship store in Sydney |date=April 21, 2015 |last=Chanthadavong |first=Aimee |website=[[ZDNet]] |access-date=December 30, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101064431/http://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-to-open-flagship-store-in-sydney/ |archive-date=January 1, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Logo===
Microsoft adopted the so-called "''[[Pac-Man]]'' Logo", designed by Scott Baker, on February 26, 1987, with the concept being similar to [[InFocus|InFocus Corporation]] logo that was adapted a year earlier in 1986. Baker stated "The new logo, in [[Helvetica]] italic typeface, has a slash between the ''o'' and ''s'' to emphasize the "soft" part of the name and convey motion and speed".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jha |first=Lakshman |date=2008 |title=Customer Relationship Management: A Strategic Approach |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NbnZwhUjlF0C |publisher=Global India Publications |page=218 |isbn=978-81-907211-2-7 |access-date=May 1, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323120123/https://books.google.com/books?id=NbnZwhUjlF0C |archive-date=March 23, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> Dave Norris ran an internal joke campaign to save the old logo, which was green, in all uppercase, and featured a fanciful letter ''O'', nicknamed the ''blibbet'', but it was discarded.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/archive/blogs/larryosterman/remember-the-blibbet |title=Remember the blibbet |work=Larry Osterman's WebLog |publisher=Microsoft |last=Osterman |first=Larry |date=July 14, 2005 |access-date=October 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080803222257/http://blogs.msdn.com/larryosterman/archive/2005/07/14/438777.aspx |archive-date=August 3, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Microsoft's logo with the tagline "Your potential. Our passion."—below the main corporate name—is based on a slogan Microsoft used in 2008. In 2002, the company started using the logo in the United States and eventually started a television campaign with the slogan, changed from the previous tagline of ''"[[Where do you want to go today?]]"''<ref name="wherego1">{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/wired/archive/6.12/redmond.html |title=The Rise and Rise of the Redmond Empire |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]  |date=December 1998 |access-date=August 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106035359/http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/6.12/redmond.html |archive-date=November 6, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="potentialpassion1">{{Cite web |url=http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising/mccann-thinks-local-global-microsoft-83426 |title=McCann Thinks Local for Global Microsoft |last=Schmelzer |first=Randi |work=Adweek |date=January 9, 2006 |access-date=August 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120828202545/http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising/mccann-thinks-local-global-microsoft-83426 |archive-date=August 28, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060123-6031.html |title=Microsoft set to launch new marketing campaign |work=Ars Technica Digital |last=Reimer |first=Jeremy |date=January 23, 2006 |access-date=August 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918080347/http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060123-6031.html |archive-date=September 18, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> During the private MGX (Microsoft Global Exchange) conference in 2010, Microsoft unveiled the company's next tagline, ''"Be What's Next."''<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2010/07/22/new-microsoft-brand-logos-company-tagline-revealed-at-mgx-event/ |title=New Microsoft brand logos, company tagline revealed at MGX event? (update: no new logos, the tagline is a go) |first=Joshua |last=Topolsky |author-link=Joshua Topolsky |work=[[Engadget]] |publisher=[[AOL]] |date=July 22, 2010 |access-date=August 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120816001625/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/22/new-microsoft-brand-logos-company-tagline-revealed-at-mgx-event |archive-date=August 16, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> They also had a slogan/tagline "Making it all make sense."<ref>{{Cite book |author=InfoWorld Media Group, Inc. |title=InfoWorld |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4FAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT26 |year=1991 |publisher=InfoWorld Media Group, Inc. |page=26 |access-date=September 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323120125/https://books.google.com/books?id=4FAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT26 |archive-date=March 23, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> The Microsoft ''Pac-Man'' logo was used for 25 years, 5 months, and 28 days until August 23, 2012, being the longest enduring logo to be used by the company.

On August 23, 2012, Microsoft unveiled a new corporate logo at the opening of its 23rd Microsoft store in Boston, indicating the company's shift of focus from the classic style to the tile-centric modern interface, which it uses/will use on the Windows Phone platform, Xbox 360, Windows 8 and the upcoming Office Suites.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meisner |first=Jeffrey |url=http://blogs.technet.com/b/microsoft_blog/archive/2012/08/23/microsoft-unveils-a-new-look.aspx |title=Microsoft Unveils a New Look |publisher=The Official Microsoft Blog |date=August 23, 2012 |access-date=August 23, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825012157/http://blogs.technet.com/b/microsoft_blog/archive/2012/08/23/microsoft-unveils-a-new-look.aspx |archive-date=August 25, 2012}}</ref> The new logo also includes four squares with the colors of the then-current Windows logo which have been used to represent Microsoft's four major products: Windows (blue), Office (orange), Xbox (green) and Bing (yellow).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Eric |first=Steven H. |url=http://flapship.com/new-microsoft-logo-revealed/ |title=NEW MICROSOFT LOGO REVEALED |publisher=Flapship.com |date=August 23, 2012 |access-date=August 23, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825174050/http://flapship.com/new-microsoft-logo-revealed/ |archive-date=August 25, 2012}}</ref> The logo also resembles the opening of one of the commercials for [[Windows 95]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wpcentral.com/microsofts-new-logo-has-ties-past |title=Microsoft's new logo has ties to the past |date=August 23, 2012 |access-date=September 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053328/http://www.wpcentral.com/microsofts-new-logo-has-ties-past |archive-date=September 21, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft039s-logo-is-not-new-it039s-from-1995 |title=Microsoft's logo is not new, it's from 1995 |access-date=September 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728155634/http://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft039s-logo-is-not-new-it039s-from-1995 |archive-date=July 28, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<gallery class="center" widths="200" caption="Microsoft logo history">
File:Microsoft logo (1975).svg|ca. 1975 – 1980: First Microsoft logo.
File:Microsoft logo (1980).svg|1980–June 25, 1982: Second Microsoft logo.
File:Microsoft Logo Historical.svg|June 25, 1982 – February 26, 1987: Third Microsoft logo.
File:Microsoft logo (1987).svg|February 26, 1987 – August 23, 2012: Microsoft "[[Pac-Man]]" logo, designed by Scott Baker.<ref name="wherego1" /><ref name="potentialpassion1" />
File:Microsoft logo and wordmark.svg|August 23, 2012–present: Fifth and current Microsoft logo.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://blogs.technet.com/b/microsoft_blog/archive/2012/08/23/microsoft-unveils-a-new-look.aspx |title=Microsoft Unveils a New Look |work=Microsoft |date=August 2012 |access-date=August 23, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825012157/http://blogs.technet.com/b/microsoft_blog/archive/2012/08/23/microsoft-unveils-a-new-look.aspx |archive-date=August 25, 2012}}</ref>
</gallery>

===Sponsorship===
[[File:Toyota Yaris WRC.jpg|thumb|[[Toyota Yaris WRC]] with sprayed on Microsoft logos|alt=Toyota Yaris WRC.jpg]]
The company was the official jersey sponsor of [[Finland national basketball team|Finland's national basketball team]] at [[EuroBasket 2015]],<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20150928112312/http://www.eurobasket2015.org/en/compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2015.roundID_9322.teamID_281.html Finland {{!}} EuroBasket 2015]}}, FIBA.com, Retrieved September 27, 2015.</ref> a major sponsor of the [[Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT]] ([[2017 WRC|2017]]–[[2020 World Rally Championship|2020]]) and a sponsor of the [[Renault F1 Team]] ([[2016 Formula One World Championship|2016]]–[[2020 Formula One World Championship|2020]]).

===Philanthropy===
In 2015, Microsoft Philanthropies, an internal charitable organization, was established to bring the benefits of technology and the digital revolution to areas and groups that lack them. The organisation's key areas of focus are: donating cloud computing resources to university researchers and nonprofit groups; supporting the expansion of broadband access worldwide; funding international computer science education through YouthSpark; supporting tech education in the U.S. from kindergarten to high school; and donating to global child and refugee relief organizations.<ref>{{Cite web|language=en|url=https://www.geekwire.com/2015/new-microsoft-philanthropies-group-will-focus-heavily-on-digital-inclusion/|title=New 'Microsoft Philanthropies' organization will focus on digital inclusion|website=Geekwire|date=December 15, 2015 |access-date=January 29, 2024|archive-date=January 29, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129035758/https://www.geekwire.com/2015/new-microsoft-philanthropies-group-will-focus-heavily-on-digital-inclusion/?__cf_chl_tk=kHhRjuofdsTnKaBUOKZ0Tu5JOcIpeGyLZEzer7pJZKY-1706500663-0-gaNycGzNERA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|language=en|url=https://www.geekwire.com/2017/from-man-bun-shearing-to-carpool-karaoke-with-execs-microsoft-employees-fund-record-breaking-donations/|title=Microsoft employees donate a record $142M to non-profits, and have a lot of fun along the way|website=Geekwire|date=March 2017 |access-date=January 29, 2024|archive-date=January 29, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129040029/https://www.geekwire.com/2017/from-man-bun-shearing-to-carpool-karaoke-with-execs-microsoft-employees-fund-record-breaking-donations/}}</ref>

During the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], Microsoft's president, [[Brad Smith (American lawyer)|Brad Smith]], announced that an initial batch of supplies, including 15,000 protection goggles, [[infrared thermometer]]s, medical caps, and protective suits, was donated to Seattle, with further aid to come soon.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/tech-billionaires-promise-to-donate-18-million-masks-2020-3#apple-minimum-2-million-masks-1|title=Tech billionaires including Tim Cook, Elon Musk, and Mark Zuckerberg promised 18 million masks to fight COVID-19|publisher=Business Insider|access-date=March 23, 2020}}</ref>

During [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]] Microsoft started monitoring [[cyberattack]]s originating from the [[Government of Russia]] and Russia-backed hackers. In June 2022, Microsoft published the report on Russian cyber attacks and concluded that state-backed Russian hackers "have engaged in "strategic espionage" against governments, [[think tank]]s, businesses and [[Aid agency|aid groups]]" in 42 countries supporting [[Kyiv]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Microsoft: Russian Cyber Spying Targets 42 Ukraine Allies |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/microsoft-russian-cyber-spying-targets-42-ukraine-allies/6628417.html |access-date=July 12, 2022 |website=VOA |date=June 22, 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | title=Defending Ukraine: Early Lessons from the Cyber War|url=https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2022/06/22/defending-ukraine-early-lessons-from-the-cyber-war/|access-date=August 22, 2023|website=Microsoft|date=June 22, 2022 |language=en |first1=Brad |last1=Smith }}</ref>

===Controversies===
{{Main|Microsoft litigation|Criticism of Microsoft|}}

Criticism of Microsoft has followed various aspects of its products and business practices. Frequently criticized are the [[ease of use]], [[Robustness (computer science)|robustness]], and [[Computer security|security]] of the company's software. They have also been criticized for the use of [[permatemp]] employees (employees employed for years as "temporary", and therefore without medical benefits), the use of [[forced retention]] tactics, which means that employees would be sued if they tried to leave.<ref>{{cite web |title=Troubling Exits At Microsoft |url=http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_39/b3952001.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070502084953/http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_39/b3952001.htm |archive-date=May 2, 2007 |date= September 26, 2005 |first1=J |last1=Greene |first2=S |last2=Hamm |first3=D |last3=Brady |first4=M |last4=Der Hovanesian |website=BusinessWeek }}</ref> Historically, Microsoft has also been accused of overworking employees, in many cases, leading to [[Occupational burnout|burnout]] within just a few years of joining the company. The company is often referred to as a "Velvet Sweatshop", a term which originated in a 1989 ''[[Seattle Times]]'' article,<ref>{{cite news |last=Andrews |first=Paul |date=April 23, 1989 |title=A 'Velvet Sweatshop' or a High-Tech Heaven? |newspaper=The Seattle Times |url=http://www.krsaborio.net/research/1980s/89/890423.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120629191556/http://www.krsaborio.net/research/1980s/89/890423.htm |archive-date=June 29, 2012}}</ref> and later became used to describe the company by some of Microsoft's own employees.<ref>{{cite web |title=Editor's note, MSJ August 1997 |url=https://www.microsoft.com/msj/0897/ednote0897.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070214061859/http://www.microsoft.com/msj/0897/ednote0897.aspx |archive-date=February 14, 2007 |access-date=September 27, 2005 |website=Microsoft}}</ref> This characterization is derived from the perception that Microsoft provides nearly everything for its employees in a convenient place, but in turn overworks them to a point where it would be bad for their (possibly long-term) health.

As reported by several news outlets,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hancock |first1=Ciarán |title=Irish-registered subsidiary of Microsoft records $314bn profit |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/technology/irish-registered-subsidiary-of-microsoft-records-314bn-profit-1.4565525 |access-date=June 3, 2021 |newspaper=The Irish Times}}</ref><ref name="Neate">{{cite web |last1=Neate |first1=Rupert |title=Microsoft's Irish subsidiary paid zero corporation tax on £220bn profit |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/03/microsoft-irish-subsidiary-paid-zero-corporate-tax-on-220bn-profit-last-year |access-date=June 3, 2021 |website=The Guardian|date=June 3, 2021 }}</ref> an Irish subsidiary of Microsoft based in the [[Republic of Ireland]] declared £220 bn in profits but paid no corporation tax for the year 2020. This is due to the company being tax resident in [[Bermuda]] as mentioned in the accounts for 'Microsoft Round Island One, a subsidiary that collects license fees from the use of Microsoft software worldwide. Dame [[Margaret Hodge]], a [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MP]] in the UK said, "It is unsurprising – yet still shocking – that massively wealthy global corporations openly, unashamedly and blatantly refuse to pay tax on the profits they make in the countries where they undertake business".<ref name="Neate" />

In 2020, [[ProPublica]] reported that the company had diverted more than $39 billion in U.S. profits to Puerto Rico using a mechanism structured to make it seem as if the company was unprofitable on paper. As a result, the company paid a tax rate on those profits of "nearly 0%". When the [[Internal Revenue Service]] audited these transactions, ProPublica reported that Microsoft aggressively fought back, including successfully lobbying Congress to change the law to make it harder for the agency to conduct audits of large corporations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Doctorow |first=Cory |date=January 22, 2020 |title=The sordid tale of Microsoft's epic tax evasion and the war they waged against the IRS |url=https://boingboing.net/2020/01/22/clippy-dodges-taxes.html |access-date=February 15, 2022 |website=Boing Boing |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kiel |first=Paul |title=The IRS Decided to Get Tough Against Microsoft. Microsoft Got Tougher. |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/the-irs-decided-to-get-tough-against-microsoft-microsoft-got-tougher |access-date=February 15, 2022 |website=ProPublica |date=January 22, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> In 2023, Microsoft reported in a securities filing that the U.S. [[Internal Revenue Service]] was alleging that the company owed the U.S. $28.9 billion in past taxes, plus penalties related to mis-allocation of corporate profits over a decade.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-12 |title=The IRS says Microsoft may owe about $29 billion in back taxes. Microsoft disagrees |url=https://apnews.com/article/microsoft-taxes-irs-96eb66abe86de19f1108209a8d57431a |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref>

"Embrace, extend, and extinguish" (EEE),<ref name="DeadlyEmbrace">{{cite news|date=March 30, 2000|title=Deadly embrace|language=en|publisher=The Economist|url=https://www.economist.com/node/298112|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180523190053/https://www.economist.com/node/298112|archive-date=May 23, 2018}}</ref> also known as "embrace, extend, and exterminate,"<ref>{{cite web|title=Microsoft limits XML in Office 2003|url=http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-996528.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050922005808/http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-996528.html|archive-date=September 22, 2005|access-date=March 31, 2006}}</ref> is a phrase that the [[United States Department of Justice|U.S. Department of Justice]] found<ref>{{cite web|title=US Department of Justice Proposed Findings of Fact—Revised|url=http://www.usdoj.gov/atr/cases/f2600/v-a.pdf|access-date=April 28, 2016|website=Usdoj.gov|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000419213934/https://www.usdoj.gov/atr/cases/f2600/v-a.pdf|archive-date=April 19, 2000|url-status=live}}</ref> that was used internally by Microsoft<ref>{{cite web|title=US Department of Justice Proposed Findings of Fact|url=http://www.usdoj.gov/atr/cases/f2600/2613.htm|access-date=April 28, 2016|website=Usdoj.gov|date=August 14, 2015}}</ref> to describe its strategy for entering product categories involving widely used standards, extending those standards with [[Proprietary software|proprietary]] capabilities, and then using those differences to strongly disadvantage competitors. Microsoft is frequently accused of using anticompetitive tactics and abusing its monopolistic power. People who use their products and services often end up becoming dependent on them, a process is known as [[vendor lock-in]].

Microsoft was the first company to participate in [[PRISM (surveillance program)|the PRISM surveillance program]], according to leaked NSA documents obtained by ''The Guardian''<ref>{{cite news |last=Greenwald |first=Glenn |author-link=Glenn Greenwald |date=June 6, 2013 |title=NSA taps in to internet giants' systems to mine user data, secret files reveal |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/06/us-tech-giants-nsa-data |url-status=live |access-date=June 6, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060818114650/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/06/us-tech-giants-nsa-data |archive-date=August 18, 2006}}</ref> and ''The Washington Post''<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gellman |first1=Barton |last2=Poitras |first2=Laura |date=June 6, 2013 |title=U.S. intelligence mining data from nine U.S. Internet companies in broad secret program |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/us-intelligence-mining-data-from-nine-us-internet-companies-in-broad-secret-program/2013/06/06/3a0c0da8-cebf-11e2-8845-d970ccb04497_story.html?hpid=z1 |url-status=live |access-date=June 6, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130615061900/http://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/us-intelligence-mining-data-from-nine-us-internet-companies-in-broad-secret-program/2013/06/06/3a0c0da8-cebf-11e2-8845-d970ccb04497_story.html?hpid=z1 |archive-date=June 15, 2013}}</ref> in June 2013, and acknowledged by government officials following the leak.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Savage |first1=Charlie |last2=Wyatt |first2=Edward |last3=Baker |first3=Peter |date=June 6, 2013 |title=U.S. says it gathers online data abroad |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/07/us/nsa-verizon-calls.html |url-status=live |access-date=February 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216072437/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/07/us/nsa-verizon-calls.html |archive-date=February 16, 2017}}</ref> The program authorizes the government to secretly access data of non-US citizens hosted by American companies without a warrant. Microsoft has denied participation in such a program.<ref>{{cite web |date=June 6, 2013 |title=Google, Facebook, Dropbox, Yahoo, Microsoft And Apple Deny Participation In NSA PRISM Surveillance Program |url=https://techcrunch.com/2013/06/06/google-facebook-apple-deny-participation-in-nsa-prism-program/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130613004834/http://techcrunch.com/2013/06/06/google-facebook-apple-deny-participation-in-nsa-prism-program/ |archive-date=June 13, 2013 |access-date=June 6, 2013 |work=Tech Crunch}}</ref>

[[Jesse Jackson]] believes Microsoft should hire more [[minorities]] and women. In 2015, he praised Microsoft for appointing two women to its board of directors.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gross |first=Ashley |title=Rev. Jesse Jackson Praises Microsoft's Diversity Efforts, But Urges The Company To Do More |url=http://www.kplu.org/post/rev-jesse-jackson-praises-microsofts-diversity-efforts-urges-company-do-more |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208082033/http://www.kplu.org/post/rev-jesse-jackson-praises-microsofts-diversity-efforts-urges-company-do-more |archive-date=December 8, 2015 |access-date=December 3, 2015}}</ref>

In 2020, [[Salesforce]], the manufacturer of the [[Slack (software)|Slack]] platform, complained to European regulators about Microsoft due to the integration of the Teams service into Office 365. Negotiations with the European Commission continued until the summer of 2023, but, as it became known to the media, they reached an impasse. Microsoft is now facing an antitrust investigation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/eu-investigation-into-microsoft-likely-after-remedies-fall-short-sources-say-2023-07-03/|title=Exclusive: Microsoft faces EU antitrust probe after remedies fall short, sources say|date=July 4, 2023|website=[[Reuters]]}}</ref>

In June 2024, Microsoft Corp. faced a potential EU fine after regulators accused it of abusing market power by bundling its Teams video-conferencing app with its Office 365 and Microsoft 365 software. The European Commission issued a statement of objections, alleging Microsoft's practice since 2019 gave Teams an unfair market advantage and limited interoperability with competing software. Despite Microsoft's efforts to avoid deeper scrutiny, including unbundling Teams, regulators remained unconvinced. This action followed a 2019 complaint from Slack, which was later acquired by Salesforce. Microsoft's Teams usage soared during the pandemic, growing from 2 million daily users in 2017 to 300 million in 2023. The company has a history of antitrust battles in the U.S. and Europe, with over €2 billion in EU fines previously imposed for similar abuses.<ref>{{cite news|last=Stolton |first=Samuel |title=Microsoft Risks EU Fine After Antitrust Warning Over Teams App |date=25 June 2024 |url=https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/microsoft-risks-eu-fine-after-antitrust-warning-over-teams-app-1.2089126 |access-date=25 June 2024}}</ref>

In October 2024, Microsoft fired two employees, software engineers Ibtihal Aboussad and Vaniya Agrawal,<ref>"Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman was interrupted by shouts from software engineer Ibtihal Aboussad during his speech at the Friday celebration while Vaniya Agrawal, another engineer, interjected during a question-and-answer session with Microsoft founder Bill Gates, CEO Satya Nadella and former CEO Steve Ballmer." - [https://thehill.com/business/5238939-microsoft-fires-employees-israel-gaza-war-protest/] (Ashleigh Fields)</ref> who organized an unauthorized vigil at its Redmond headquarters to honor Palestinians killed in the [[Gaza war]]. The employees, part of the group "No Azure for Apartheid," sought to address the company's involvement in the Israeli government's use of its technology.<ref>{{cite news|last=O’BRIEN  |first=MATT |title=Microsoft fires employees who organized vigil for Palestinians killed in Gaza |date=25 October 2024 |url=https://apnews.com/article/microsoft-fired-workers-israel-palestinians-gaza-72de6fe1f35db9398e3b6785203c6bbf |website=AP News |access-date=27 October 2024}}</ref> On 20 March 2025, before an event at Seattle's Great Hall with Brad Smith and Steve Ballmer, protestors projected "Microsoft powers [[Gaza genocide|genocide]]" on the wall. Subsequently, two employees interrupted AI executive Mustafa Suleyman at a speaking event on 4 April 2025 in protest at the company's support of Israel.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pratt |first1=Timothy |title=Microsoft faces growing unrest over role in Israel's war on Gaza: 'Close to a tipping point' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/apr/18/microsoft-ai-israel-gaza-war |website=The Guardian |access-date=18 April 2025 |date=18 April 2025}}</ref> The [[Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions]] movement added Microsoft to its list of targets for partnering "with the apartheid regime of Israel and its prison system".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/news/554879/bds-palestine-israel-xbox-microsoft-boycott-candy-crush-minecraft-call-of-duty|title=Palestinian-led BDS movement adds Microsoft's Xbox as priority boycott target|date=8 April 2025|access-date=18 April 2025|website=Polygon|last=Walker|first=Ian}}</ref>

In November 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) launched an investigation into Microsoft, focusing on potential antitrust violations related to its cloud computing, AI, and cybersecurity businesses. The probe scrutinized Microsoft's bundling of cloud services with products like Office and security tools, as well as its growing AI presence through its partnership with OpenAI. This inquiry is part of broader efforts by the U.S. government to curb the power of major tech companies, especially under FTC chair Lina Khan. Concerns were raised about Microsoft's licensing practices potentially locking customers into its services and its AI investments possibly sidestepping regulatory oversight.<ref>{{cite news|last=McCabe |first=David |title=F.T.C. Launches Antitrust Investigation Into Microsoft |date=27 November 2024 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/27/technology/microsoft-ftc-antitrust.html |website=NY Times |access-date=1 December 2024}}</ref>