P&G’s patent confirmed in coffee container row

11 November 2008 | By Popsop Team

The US Patent and Trademark Office has, for the second time, confirmed the validity of Procter & Gamble’s patent for a plastic coffee container which it claims Kraft Foods infringed.

In August 2007, P&G filed a lawsuit against Kraft Foods, alleging Kraft’s Maxwell House plastic container infringes its patent for a Folgers coffee pack.

The lawsuit was put on hold in October by the US District Court for the Northern District of California, pending the outcome of a review by the US patent office.

Steve Jemison, P&G chief legal officer, said: “With this decision, which validates our position, we’re even more confident we’ll prevail against Kraft in our multiple intellectual property lawsuits.”

P&G completed the sale of the Folgers coffee business to The JM Smucker Company last week.
However, it said it would continue to lead this litigation, coordinating with the new owner.