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Corporate
Patent Office Upholds P&G Coffee Patent
The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE: PG) today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has, for the second time, confirmed the validity of P&G's patent for a consumer- preferred plastic coffee container. This container has helped drive the success of P&G's Folgers coffee brand.In August of 2007, P&G filed suit against Kraft Foods, alleging Kraft’s Maxwell House plastic container infringes P&G’s patent. In October of 2007, this lawsuit was put on hold by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, pending the outcome of a review by the U.S. patent office.
“With this decision, which validates our position, we’re even more confident we’ll prevail against Kraft in our multiple intellectual property lawsuits,” said Steve Jemison, P&G chief legal officer.
P&G completed the sale of its Folgers coffee business to The J.M. Smucker Company (NYSE: SJM) on November 6, 2008. P&G will continue to lead this litigation, coordinating with The J.M. Smucker Company.
