UK Competition Watchdog Opens Antitrust Investigation Into Dassault Systèmes Over SolidWorks Software Supply
The CMA is investigating Dassault Systemes UK, Solid Solutions Management, and Visiativ Solutions over suspected anti-competitive conduct in SolidWorks software supply.
Overview
The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority has opened a formal antitrust investigation into the supply of SolidWorks computer-aided design and engineering software, targeting the UK arm of French software group Dassault Systèmes and two of its resellers. According to the CMA’s official case page, the regulator “is investigating suspected anti-competitive conduct relating to Solidworks software which may infringe Chapter I of the Competition Act 1998.”
What We Know
The CMA opened the case on 30 June 2026 and published details of it on 2 July 2026. Its case page states: “On 30 June 2026, the CMA launched an investigation under Chapter I of the Competition Act 1998 (CA98), in relation to the supply of Solidworks computer-aided design and computer-aided engineering software, and related products and services in the UK,” according to GOV.UK.
Three companies are named as under investigation: Dassault Systemes UK Limited, Solid Solutions Management Limited, and Visiativ Solutions UK Limited, according to GOV.UK. The CMA classifies the matter as a “CA98 and civil cartels” case within the engineering market sector, and its published case timetable lists an initial investigation phase running from June 2026 to December 2026, described as “information gathering,” per GOV.UK.
The CMA has not made any determination of wrongdoing. Its case page states: “The CMA has not reached a view as to whether there is sufficient evidence of an infringement of competition law for it to issue a statement of objections to any party or parties.” It adds: “Not all cases result in the CMA issuing a statement of objections and no assumption should be made at this stage that the CA98 has been infringed,” according to GOV.UK. If the investigation eventually leads to a statement of objections, the regulator says it will give the companies involved an opportunity to make written and oral representations before reaching a final decision.
Chapter I of the Competition Act 1998 prohibits both agreements between direct competitors and coordination between different levels of a supply chain, covering conduct such as price-fixing, market or customer allocation, discriminatory trading terms, and tying contracts to unrelated obligations, as reported by DEVELOP3D. The trade publication, which covers the CAD and engineering-software industry, also reported that there is no public indication of how the case came about or what alerted the CMA to the alleged conduct.
Dassault Systèmes has acknowledged the probe. When contacted for a statement, the company confirmed the CMA’s investigation and said it was ‘cooperating fully,’ according to DEVELOP3D. A company spokesperson added: “Dassault Systèmes remains fully committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations and will make no further comment,” according to DEVELOP3D.
The CMA’s investigation was also reported by Investing.com, which confirmed the same three companies, the 30 June 2026 opening date, and the Chapter I legal basis.
What We Don’t Know
The CMA has not disclosed what specifically triggered the investigation, what conduct is suspected beyond the general categories Chapter I covers, or which party — if any — raised the initial complaint. Neither the regulator nor the companies involved have specified whether the suspected conduct concerns pricing, licensing terms, reseller territories, or other supply arrangements. No statement of objections has been issued, and the CMA’s own guidance cautions against assuming any infringement occurred. Solid Solutions Management and Visiativ Solutions have not issued public statements on the investigation.