Netherlands: Authority for Consumers and Markets closes investigation into international software supplier over alleged abuse of dominance

On 1 May 2026, the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) closed its investigation into a large, internationally operating software supplier in the Dutch market. The ACM had investigated whether the company was abusing its dominant economic position through unreasonably high prices and unfair terms and conditions applied to business customers in the Netherlands. It was stated that the investigation yielded insufficient evidence of abuse of dominance. The ACM emphasised that while companies with dominant positions, including software suppliers with technical integrations, contractual restrictions, or high switching costs, may lawfully hold such positions, they remain prohibited from abusing them through unreasonable pricing or terms that harm competition and innovation.