Court of appeal overturns anti-competitive fragrance distribution ruling
The Court of Appeal in Paris has annulled a decision taken by the country's competition authority in early 2006 against 16 producers and distributors of perfume products who were at the time accused of entering into anti-competitive agreements. They included LVMH, Chanel, Sephora and Marionnaud and were understood to relate to alleged price fixing in the period between 1997 and 2000.
The Court of Appeal in Paris has annulled a decision taken by the country's competition authority in early 2006 against 16 producers and distributors of perfume products who were at the time accused of entering into anti-competitive agreements. They included LVMH, Chanel, Sephora and Marionnaud and were understood to relate to alleged price fixing in the period between 1997 and 2000.
The appeal court has based its decision on the very long time between the alleged infringements and the decision by the competition body. The court ruled that this delay prevented the companies from making use of elements of proof which they could have used in their defence against the authority.