The story of Autorité de la concurrence

Autorité de la concurrence. France’s competition authority.

22 Jul 2021

Chanel, sanctioned by Autorité de la concurrence. Fined €130,000 for a clause in its licence with Luxottica banning online sales of sunglasses and frames by opticians.

Luxottica, sanctioned by Autorité de la concurrence. Limiting opticians’ freedom to set prices (2005 to 2014); fine of about €125 million.

Luxottica was fined €125,174,000 in all, almost all for the pricing; LVMH €500,000 and Chanel €130,000 for banning online sales. The authority said retaliation included delaying deliveries, withdrawing approval and blocking accounts. In English, the company’s 22 July 2021 statement called the fine highly disproportionate and without foundation and said it would appeal.

6 Oct 2022

Essilor, sanctioned by Autorité de la concurrence. Discrimination of online players and protection of brick-and-mortar retailers for certain prescription lenses; fine of €81 million.

A separate case about prescription lenses, not sunglasses. Upheld by the Paris Court of Appeal on 12 December 2024; EssilorLuxottica has appealed.

Autorité de la concurrence, involved in The French fine on Essilor (2022), The French eyewear decision (21-D-20, 2021) and The French personal-care price decision (14-D-19, 2014).

6 sourced connections, each with its evidence. Open the explorer to follow any of them further, filter by lens, or move through time.

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