EssilorLuxottica defends monopoly claims as ‘Good Business’

EssilorLuxottica, the global eyewear powerhouse, has urged a U.S. judge to dismiss a series of consumer lawsuits accusing the Ray-Ban manufacturer of monopolizing the designer frames and prescription lenses markets, resulting in inflated prices for consumers.

In a court filing made on Wednesday, EssilorLuxottica argued before U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil in Manhattan that the plaintiffs in the case had failed to provide sufficient evidence to support their claims that the company was violating U.S. antitrust laws. The lawsuits, initially filed last year and later consolidated in Manhattan, allege that EssilorLuxottica used a series of acquisitions and restrictive sales agreements to unlawfully dominate the eyewear market.

In its defense, the company dismissed the accusations, stating: “Their claims amount to nothing more than a contention that building a successful company over many decades is unlawful. That is not an antitrust violation; it is good business.”

The legal battle follows Essilor’s 2018 merger with Italian eyewear giant Luxottica in a deal valued at $58 billion, forming EssilorLuxottica. The combined entity owns well-known retail outlets such as LensCrafters, Sunglasses Hut, and For Eyes, along with premium eyewear brands like Persol, Oliver Peoples, and Oakley.

The plaintiffs, seeking class-action status, claim that EssilorLuxottica has created an anti-competitive environment, with restrictive agreements offering consumers what they called "an illusion of choice in a competition-free ecosystem." They assert that the company controls more than half of the $8.5 billion U.S. premium eyewear retail market.

However, EssilorLuxottica maintains that the eyewear industry remains highly competitive and argued that the plaintiffs’ claims fail to demonstrate that the company has effectively shut out rivals. The company specifically pointed to new entrants in the market, such as Warby Parker, which have successfully established themselves as competitors with their own branded eyewear lines.

The plaintiffs and their legal representatives, as well as EssilorLuxottica and its attorneys, have so far not responded to requests for comment.

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