Lyoness recently filed multiple copyright infringement notices with YouTube, leading to the removal of videos critical of the company. YouTube accepts such complaints without prior verification, though content creators can challenge the claims.
Two specific videos became targets. One showed Andy Nyakas' pitch for Lyoness on Dragon's Den Canada. He presented to venture capital investors, attempting to introduce the company.
The pitch was awkward. It brought the company's internal Accounting Unit investment scheme into public view, a rare look at its hidden structure. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation owns the show's copyright. Footage of this episode, previously available, has also disappeared from the CBC website.
A second video contained an investigative report from ORF, Austria's national public service broadcaster. The ORF report aired earlier this year and later appeared on YouTube. Lyoness filed copyright claims against this video too, shortly after it gained wider viewership. ORF owns the report's copyright, making Lyoness' claims false.
The Dragon's Den segment offered a critical look at a typical Lyoness investor presentation. But the ORF report, an investigative piece, carried much heavier accusations.
The ORF report detailed Lyoness' prior attempts to suppress critical Austrian media coverage. Late last year, critical Austrian media stories appeared. They discussed Lyoness investors losing money and the Austrian Corruption Prosecutor's suspicions of an "illegal pyramid scheme." Lyoness then complained to the Austrian Media Authority. Lyoness lost that case.
The report also investigated Lyoness CEO and founder, Herbert Friedl. Friedl often presents himself in a messiah-like manner at company events. He possesses charisma and strong sales skills. These traits influenced many people's decisions.
After explaining the merchant cashback scheme, the ORF report focused on the hidden Lyoness accounting unit investment scheme. An internal Lyoness video from Switzerland, cited in the report, explained the entry requirement. Members could buy into the system for 3000 Swiss Francs, or 2000 EUR.