businessneutral

Patent Tying Fight Ends in Big Loss for Ingevity

Washington D.C., USAThursday, February 12, 2026

Key Points

Decision: Federal Circuit keeps $85 million judgment against Ingevity.
Dispute: Ingevity bundled patented carbon-filtering technology with non-patented items.
Claim: BASF sued for patent infringement, alleging unfair bundling tactics.

Court's Reasoning

Anticompetitive Strategy: Three-judge panel confirmed Ingevity's bundling was anticompetitive.
Patent-Misuse Defense: Defense only valid if bundled items are "non-staple."
Staple Goods: Ingevity's filters could be used in non-patented air-intake systems.

Evidence and Outcome

Sales Records: Showed filters used in induction systems, rejecting Ingevity's claim.
Damages: Original $28.3 million increased to $85 million; appellate court upheld the figure.
Patent Validity: Court did not review patent validity as it expired in 2022.

Implications

Legal Precedent: Courts scrutinize forced bundling of unrelated products to protect patents.
Patent-Misuse Defense: Limited use in antitrust cases.

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