Specialty chemicals marketer Archroma said it has entered into a license agreement with Blankophor GmbH for its patented ‘improved optical brightening compositions’.

The improved optical brightening technology was developed by Archroma combining magnesium salts with optical brighteners.

“Papers treated with this process present enhanced brightness and whiteness levels, offering consumers a more pleasurable writing and printing experience,” Archroma said in a press release.

The patent covers mixed salts of most of the common paper optical brighteners containing magnesium cations.

According to Archorma, the agreement recognises it as the sole owner of the European patent after it has become final, and grants a license to Blankophor GmbH as the first licensee to use the patented process.

Valerie Diele-Braun, president at Archroma’s Paper Solutions said, “The patent recognises Archroma’s commitment to development of innovative solutions to meet needs of customers and also expectations of end users.”

Dr. Bernd Hauschel, head of technology at Blankophor said, “Even though we have a different view on the decision of the European Patent Office, we do respect their decision after we lost the opposition case against Archroma’s patent.”

“For this reason, we decided to enter into a license agreement to avoid any infringement of the Archroma patent in the context regarding our products, as we also like our patents to be respected,” he added. (AR)