Procter & Gamble Prevails Against Private Label Manufacturers and Distributors in Crest® Whitestrips Intellectual Property Violations
CINCINNATI–(BUSINESS WIRE)–A federal court has entered a permanent injunction barring a private
label manufacturer from infringing P&G’s substantial Crest Whitestrips
intellectual property rights. Specifically, the Court enjoined Onuge
Personal Care (Guangzhou) Co. LTD from manufacturing, offering, selling,
or distributing products that infringe P&G’s patents or its Crest
Whitestrips trade dress or trademarks.
Earlier this year, P&G filed a complaint and motion for preliminary
injunction in the United States District Court for the Southern District
of Ohio against Onuge, a private label manufacturer and distributor of
tooth whitening products, and MS International Enterprises LLC., an
importer. P&G alleged that the two companies were infringing P&G’s
patents, trade dress, and trademarks. MS International responded by
agreeing to respect P&G’s intellectual property and by removing its
products from the market. The case against MS International was
therefore dismissed, while the lawsuit against Onuge continued.
Following a preliminary injunction hearing on July 28, 2016, Onuge
agreed to a consent judgment in which the Court ordered a permanent
injunction. This Order is not appealable and ends the case. This case
follows a long line of P&G’s successful actions to protect its Crest
Whitestrips patents, including against Clio USA, Inc., Team
Technologies, Inc., and Brushpoint Innovations, Inc. But in this case,
P&G also challenged the trademark and trade dress violations by Onuge
and MS International.
“P&G’s resolve to protect our Crest Whitestrips intellectual property
has not wavered. We will continue to enforce our IP rights to ensure
that our trusted Crest brand, the innovations behind it, and,
ultimately, consumers, are fairly protected from infringers, big and
small,” said Deborah P. Majoras, P&G’s Chief Legal Officer. “We are
pleased that, once again, we have been successful in protecting our
investment in innovation that benefits consumers.”
About Procter & Gamble
P&G serves consumers around the world with one of the strongest
portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always®,
Ambi Pur®, Ariel®, Bounty®, Charmin®, Crest®, Dawn®, Downy®, Fairy®,
Febreze®, Gain®, Gillette®, Head & Shoulders®, Lenor®, Olay®, Oral-B®,
Pampers®, Pantene®, SK-II®, Tide®, Vicks®, and Whisper®. The P&G
community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide.
Please visit http://www.pg.com
for the latest news and information about P&G and its brands.
Contacts
Procter & Gamble
Oral Care Communications
Kris Parlett,
+1-513-622-2311
parlett.kr@pg.com
