Lyoness/Lyconet/myWorld: Marketers bear the responsibility?

Lyoness/Lyconet/myWorld have been the focus of legal disputes in several countries for years. The business model and practices of these companies have been repeatedly criticised. But what is particularly alarming: In situations where legal problems arise, the company leaves its marketers out in the cold. Instead of taking responsibility, the company shifts the burden and blame onto those who helped set up the system – the marketers.

The irresponsibility of Lyoness/Lyconet

From the outset, the company builds up a basis of trust and sympathy through training and presentations in order to recruit new marketers. As a result of this approach, many marketers often blindly trust the content conveyed without scrutinising it critically. They act in good faith that the promises are legally secure. But when it comes to legal disputes, the company quickly distances itself from this content and leaves the marketers to their fate. Marketers are then portrayed as having acted on their own authority and allegedly made false promises. The company itself takes no responsibility for the spread of questionable practices, but shifts the burden onto the marketers and portrays them as the main culprits.

No backing from the company

What is particularly problematic is that Lyoness/Lyconet offers its marketers no support whatsoever if they are called to account in court. The company is not only distancing itself from its own training content, but is leaving the marketers to face legal disputes on their own. These marketers, who originally acted in reliance on the company’s own presentations and the trust they had built up, then have to answer for the consequences alone, which leads to considerable personal and financial burdens.

The statements made by Hubert Freidl in his statement to the WKStA in January 2024 also illustrate the practice of shifting blame. Freidl not only distanced himself from any responsibility, but also shifted the blame for misunderstandings and misconduct entirely onto the marketers. He suggested that the marketers had obviously not sufficiently understood the training content and the business model and were therefore responsible for their own legal problems. These statements give the impression that the marketers are not only being used as scapegoats, but are also being portrayed as incompetent

Lyoness/Lyconet/myWorld exploits its marketers to drive business growth without showing them the appreciation they deserve.

Many marketers realise too late that they have got themselves into legal trouble because they blindly followed the company’s instructions. Participation in this system harbours considerable personal risks. Marketers can be held liable for misleading advertising and participation in an illegal pyramid scheme.

This may seem threatening at first, but it is important to emphasise that the marketers were allegedly grossly negligent and that the law is on their side. Do not put up with these derogatory practices. Contact us and fight back together with us!