Oscar Wylee Taken to Court Over Misleading Donation Claims

Popular eyewear company Oscar Wylee as come under fire for falsely representing its charitable donations. The ACCC’s claim in the Federal Court alleges that Oscar Wylee misled consumers by making false claims about their donations. This comes at a time where many businesses have started to use philanthropy as a promotional tool. It’s one thing for businesses to market themselves as being progressive and socially conscious. But if businesses don’t do the things they claim to – this quickly becomes illegal.

What the ACCC is alleging

The ACCC alleges that Oscar Wylee engaged in misleading conduct by claiming to donate glasses to ‘those in need’. However, many of these donations never happened. Of the 320,000 pairs of glasses purchased, only 3,000 were donated. Widely advertised statements included claims such as ‘Buying a pair today? As soon as you do, we’ll donate a pair to someone in need’ and ‘Buy a pair, give a pair’. As the ACCC states ‘“We are concerned that consumers may have chosen Oscar Wylee over other eyewear companies because they believed their purchase would result in Oscar Wylee providing glasses to people in need.

Further, Oscar Wylee is accused of misrepresenting their relationship with a Cambodian charity. Oscar Wylee claimed to have a working partnership with Rose Charities in Cambodia, but the extent of their relationship with Rose Charities only went so far as a one-off donation.

Misleading and deceptive conduct

Section 18 of the Australian Consumer Law states that it’s illegal for businesses to engage in activities that:

  • Mislead or deceive customers
  • Are likely to mislead or deceive customers

Businesses which engage in this type of conduct can face serious financial penalties. In this case, Oscar Wylee may be liable to pay a hefty fine in addition to an injunction, declaration and corrective publication order.

Conclusion

Oscar Wylee’s charitable ambitions may have started with good intentions, but this case should serve as a warning for businesses which promote their philanthropic ventures. As the ACCC puts it “Businesses must ensure that if they make claims about their charitable donations, affiliations or partnerships, they are true and can be substantiated.” Further, as consumers become more conscious of the businesses they buy from, businesses need to ensure they market themselves honestly. If you have questions about promoting your business, it may be wise to contact a competition lawyer.

Don’t know where to start? Contact us on 1800 529 728 to learn more about customising legal documents and obtaining a fixed-fee quote from Australia’s largest lawyer marketplace.

Most Popular Articles
You may also like
Recent Articles

Get the latest news

By clicking on 'Sign up to our newsletter' you are agreeing to the Lawpath Terms & Conditions

Share:

Register for our free live webinar today!

Managing Casual Employment: A Comprehensive Guide for SMEs

12:00pm AEDT
Tuesday 9th April 2024

By clicking on 'Register for webinar' you are agreeing to the Lawpath Terms & Conditions

You may also like

Thank you!

Your registration is confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox for an email with details on how to watch the webinar.