P&G and Ranir have reached an agreement regarding their tooth whitening strips, after a year-long battle concerning patent rights.
In the March 2017 lawsuit, Ranir, a US-based private label manufacturer of oral care products, was accused of acting “recklessly” and riding on the coattails of P&G by selling strips that allegedly infringed on P&G’s Crest patents.
However, the two companies have now reached an agreement, which resolves all patent disputes concerning tooth whitening strip products between P&G and Ranir in the US and Canada.
The settlement agreement gives Ranir the rights to P&G’s patents, allowing it to remain in the tooth whitening strip market.
In return, Ranir has agreed to commercial terms that have been kept confidential by both parties.
Over the years, P&G has defended its whitening strip technology against various different companies accused of intellectual property infringement.
In 2016, it won a lawsuit against Onuge Personal Care, while in 2014, it sued private label supplier Clio.