Luxottica, Agreement with Oakley for XYZ Optics Patent

Luxottica and Oakley have reached an agreement after two lawsuits brought by the American group against the Belluno-based company and its US subsidiaries for infringement of a patent for the production of lenses for sunglasses.

This agreement also sees the cancellation of the preliminary injunction issued by the California District Court which prevented Sunglass Hut, a subsidiary of the Leonardo Del Vecchio's company, from producing or selling models prepared with some special types of lensesin the United States.

From now on, Oakley will continue to use its XYZ Optics patent for the production of lenses for sunglasses and Luxottica will be free to use the alternative method agreed to for the optical correction of its models of sunglasses.

"The agreement removes a potential obstacle to the development of a strong commercial relationship between the two leaders in the sun lens sector", stated Oakley's number one, Jim Jannard. The American company will, however, proceed with the lawsuits already brought against other groups in the sector for the alleged infringement of the XYZ Optics patent.