The legal fight has lasted for years, and has been studied by several French and European courts. It brought into conflict the cosmetics distributors on the Internet and the Pierre Fabre Group, which wanted to sell its brands (Avène, Ducray, A-Derma, Klorane, Galénic, René Furterer…) only through the authorized pharmacies channel. End of game now, announced by the group itself.
Pierre Fabre Dermo-Cosmetic (PFDC) press release
The Paris Appeal Court has demanded, on 31 January 2013, that Laboratoires Pierre Fabre Dermo-Cosmetic allows the on-line resale of its products by its authorized distributors. In the meantime, it has recognized the merits, the viability and the interest for the consumers of the selective distribution channel of PFDC products, fingering out, in particular, that the physical and actual presence of a person trained in pharmacy in the selling shop "is a means to provide the consumers with a high-quality customized advice service".
PFDC takes note of this decision, and will now allow the on-line resale of its products by its authorized distributors.
PFDC says that the resale of its products on the Internet will be carried out only as per the authorization principles that it has defended since its origin, and, which have been approved by the Paris Appeal Court:
• Issuance by PFDC of a specific Internet authorization to the authorized real selling point;
• Continued access of the consumer to an on-line advice provided by a person trained in pharmacy;
• Display the PFDC products on a high-quality Internet environment, in compliance with the image and the technical nature of …
