Oakley Sues Bausch & Lomb Over Patent

Oakley Inc., the second-largest U.S. maker of sunglasses, said it sued market leader Bausch & Lomb Inc., claiming some of its glasses infringe Oakley patents. Oakley said Rochester, N.Y.-based Bausch & Lomb’s Revo, Killer and Arnette-style glasses infringe Oakley’s patents for its XYZ Optics lens and its Iridium lens-coating technology. The suit, filed in federal court in California, is another salvo in Foothill Ranch-based Oakley’s legal campaign to protect its share of the annual $1.5-billion U.S. market for sunglasses, analysts said. Last year, Oakley sued Nike Inc., claiming its sunglasses violated the XYZ Optics patent. The Bausch & Lomb case is scheduled to go to trial in December. In New York Stock Exchange trading, Oakley shares rose 44 cents to close at $14.13, while Bausch & Lomb shares rose $1.19 to close at $50.