Revamp of Federal Software Buys Could Force Microsoft Changes

The top Democratic senator responsible for government oversight is drafting legislation that would overhaul how the federal government buys software, a move that could force Microsoft Corp., Oracle Corp. and other technology companies to remove limits on how their products interact with those made by rivals.

The draft bill, a copy of which was obtained by Bloomberg, would require agencies to move toward buying unlimited software licenses, rather than ones for a specific number of employees. Known as “enterprise licenses,” these contracts can save money by eliminating added costs when software is overused.

The legislation, written by Senator Gary ...