P&G files patent infringement against J&J
to head as Procter and Gamble (P&G) files a lawsuit against
Johnson and Johnson (J&J) for patent infringement.
The Cincinnati-based company has alleged that a teeth whitening product manufactured by J&J under the Listerine brand infringes key P&G patents. The product in question is the Listerine Whitening Quick Dissolving Strips launched by the company last year. The strips are designed to dissolve in five to ten minutes once applied, therefore eliminating the need to remove the product. According to P&G, the product infringes on a number of its patents relating to both the teeth whitening ingredient and the delivery system. With the lawsuit P&G are aiming to stop J&J and subsidiary McNeil-PPC from making, selling, and importing any products that infringe its patents on tooth whitening products. In addition the company is seeking damages. New product segment P&G first released a teeth whitening strip in 2000 under the Crest brand, creating an entirely new product segment according to the company. The Crest Whitestrip was designed to be worn for 30 minutes a day and provide whitening benefits for up to six months. Several product releases later and the company have a strip designed to whiten teeth after five minutes wear a day. This technology is threatened by the release of products like the Listerine strips, according to the company. "P&G invests heavily in R&D to provide consumers with leading products. This technology and its intellectual property are important assets of the company. We must protect our intellectual property," said P&G chief legal officer Steve Jemison. The company is certainly no stranger to the courts filing multiple patent infringements lawsuits every year in an attempt to protect its technology and intellectual property.
