Bath & Body Works Sues to Reclaim Royalties on Expired Patent

Bath & Body Works LLC asked a federal court to order a former research partner to refund more than $74 million in patent royalties it says its paid since the relevant patent expired in 2020.

Bath & Body Works’ obligation to pay royalties to Zaragoza & Zembrodt LLC for certain fragrance products became unlawful after the patent expired Jan. 7, 2020, the retailer said in a complaint filed Nov. 7 in the US District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. It alleges that under US Supreme Court precedent, any agreement requiring royalty payments for the use of a patent ...