Overview

• U.S. District Judge James Donato in San Francisco rejected the claims by three California shoppers and closed the case on Sept. 17.
• The court held that reserving Birkin bags for the highest-paying customers is not, by itself, an antitrust violation.
• Plaintiffs alleged an illegal tying scheme and a hidden lottery that pressured ancillary purchases for a chance to buy a Birkin.
• Hermès argued the bags are sold in a competitive market and that customers without a purchase history can still obtain them.
• The ruling follows an earlier dismissal of the suit, and Hermès recently reported Q2 2025 sales up 9% to €3.9 billion.