Microsoft lawyer Rima Alaily moaned in the company bog that Google hired a firm to recruit European cloud companies to represent the search company's case.

"This week, an astroturf group organised by Google is launching," Alaily wrote. "It is designed to discredit Microsoft with competition authorities, and policymakers and mislead the public. Google has gone to great lengths to obfuscate its involvement, funding, and control, most notably by recruiting a handful of European cloud providers to serve as the public face of the new organisation".

The conflict represents a fresh battle between two companies that compete in cloud infrastructure, online advertising, and productivity software. The latest chapter surfaces as Google faces heightened regulatory pressure in Europe and the US, where it's in the midst of its second antitrust trial against the Justice Department.

Alaily suggested Google hired the advisory firm DGA Group to set up the Open Cloud Coalition. One company that opted not to participate in the group told Microsoft that the coalition would receive financial backing from Google and criticise Microsoft's practices in Europe.