“Ranir is … the most recent private label supplier in a long line that have tried to ride on the coattails of P&G’s success by selling tooth-whitening strips that infringe P&G’s patented technology,” the lawsuit states.
Lawsuits regarding Whitestrips are nothing new at P&G. In 2014 and 2016 P&G filed lawsuits to protect its Whitestrips technoloyg. And nearly 11 years ago to the day, P&G sued Ranir, alleging that Ranir infringes patents owned by Gillette's Braun company. Ranir sold replacement toothbrush heads specifically designed to fit Oral-B power toothbrushes that are manufactured by Braun and sold by Gillette in the US.
The Ranir products specified in the P&G’s suit filed March 20 are packaged for sale under various store brands, including the Kroger private label in Kroger stores and the Equate private label in Walmart stores.
he Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE: PG) through its wholly owned subsidiary, The Gillette Company, has filed a lawsuit against Ranir, LLC, a private label manufacturer and distributor of oral care products, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. The lawsuit alleges that Ranir infringes patents owned by Gillette's Braun company.
Ranir sells replacement toothbrush heads specifically designed to fit Oral-B power toothbrushes that are manufactured by Braun and sold by Gillette in the United States. The Ranir product is sold under various retail store brand names. P&G claims the defendant, without authorization, is violating Braun's patents relating to the connection between the brushhead and the handles of Oral-B power toothbrushes.
"We cannot allow other companies to copy our products and infringe our patents," stated Gary Cohen, Vice President, Oral-B Business Management. "Oral-B's brushhead designs are a competitive advantage. We intend to protect the investment we have made into the research, development and intellectual property of our products."
The lawsuit seeks to stop Ranir from selling the infringing products. It also seeks to recover damages for violations of P&G's intellectual property rights.
- See more at: http://news.pg.com/press-release/pg-corporate-announcements/procter-gamble-files-lawsuit-against-ranir-private-label-or#sthash.yIFjnnXb.dpuf
