P&G Sues J&J for Patent Infringement on Tooth-Whitening Strips

Tag : active strips

CINCINNATI -- The Procter & Gamble Company has filed a lawsuitagainst Johnson & Johnson and McNeil-PPC, Inc., themanufacturer and distributor of Listerine Whitening® QuickDissolving Strips, for patent infringement. These Listerine stripsare sold throughout the U.S.
The suit, filed in the United States District Court for the WesternDistrict of Wisconsin, alleges that the Listerine Whitening®Quick Dissolving Strips infringe key P&G patents related to thetooth whitening active ingredient and delivery systems.
In 2000, P&G introduced Crest Whitestrips® creating a newproduct segment. Crest Whitestrips® has since become animportant part of P&G's overall oral care product portfolio
"P&G invests heavily in R&D to provide consumers withleading products. This technology and its intellectual property areimportant assets of the Company," said Steve Jemison, P&Gchief legal officer. "We must protect our intellectualproperty."
The lawsuit seeks to stop Johnson & Johnson and McNeil-PPC,Inc. from making, selling, and importing any products that infringeP&G's patents on tooth-whitening products. It also seeksrecovery of damages.
About Procter & Gamble
Three billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of peoplearound the world. The company has one of the strongest portfoliosof trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Pampers®,Tide®, Ariel®, Always®, Whisper®, Pantene®,Mach3®, Bounty®, Dawn®, Gain®, Pringles®,Folgers®, Charmin®, Downy®, Lenor®, Iams®,Crest®, Oral-B®, Actonel®, Duracell®, Olay®,Head & Shoulders®, Wella, Gillette®, and Braun. TheP&G community consists of 138,000 employees working in over 80countries worldwide.
Source: P&G