The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has officially closed its investigation into a large, internationally operating software company in the business market. The focus of the investigation was to determine whether the company had abused its dominant position, potentially harming buyers in the process.

ACM had received serious indications and reports suggesting that the prices and conditions set by the software company were unreasonable for commercial buyers in the Netherlands. However, after thorough investigation, ACM concluded that there was insufficient evidence to establish a violation of competition law.

ACM highlighted that businesses with dominant positions have a special responsibility to avoid abusive practices. A dominant position allows a business to act independently from buyers and competitors, which can create barriers to switching to alternative suppliers. This is particularly relevant in the software industry, where technical integrations and contractual limitations can impose high switching costs on buyers.

While having a dominant position is not illegal, abusing that position—such as by charging unreasonable prices or imposing unfair conditions—can lead to higher costs for buyers and ultimately harm consumers through increased prices and reduced innovation. ACM remains committed to ensuring fair competition in the digital economy, which is a key priority as reliance on digital services continues to grow.