Investing.com -- SAP SE, Europe's largest software maker, will allow customers to switch to competing service providers or end contracts more easily under commitments accepted by European Union antitrust regulators on Thursday. The measures are designed to avoid a potential fine.

The European Commission opened an investigation in September 2025 over concerns that SAP was preventing competitors from offering maintenance and support services for on-premise software. Regulators believed the company was creating barriers for customers who wanted to change vendors.

SAP modified its initial proposal after the EU competition authority collected feedback from third parties, leading to the Commission's approval of the commitments.

"Today's decision gives customers using SAP's popular on-premises business management software more freedom to choose maintenance and support services without unfair restrictions that raised their costs and stifled competition," EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera said in a statement.

SAP's commitments include providing an alternative calculation method for license fees that determine maintenance and service charges. The company will also eliminate reinstatement fees and lower back maintenance fees for customers who return.

The agreement applies worldwide for 10 years.