In a significant win for Align Technology, the makers of Invisalign, a California federal judge sided with the company against antitrust allegations. A class action brought forth by orthodontists and aligner buyers contended that the company used undue anti-competitive practices. The controversy stems from the company’s unilateral decision to terminate an interoperability agreement with a dental scanner company, 3Shape.
However, the presiding judge decreed that Align Technology’s decision was based, at least in part, on “legitimate business reasons”, thereby dismissing the plaintiffs’ refusal-to-deal claims. Further specifics of the case and the judgement are being reported in a legal chronicle available at Law360.
This judgement marks another chapter in the ongoing narrative of companies having to defend their strategic decisions in front of antitrust scrutiny. It underlines the importance for businesses navigating this complex terrain to have a robust legal justification for their competitive activities and use of proprietary technology.