02.28.11
Church & Dwight Inc. is suing Colgate-Palmolive Co. for patent infringement on packaging that allows customers to turn on battery-powered toothbrushes before purchasing.
Church & Dwight, in a lawsuit filed Feb. 23 in U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, alleges that Colgate has incorporated features of Church & Dwight's patents to package its own electric toothbrushes without authorization.
The packaging features a "try me" button that allows customer to momentarily turn on the motor of the battery-powered toothbrushes at the point-of-purchase. Recesses in the plastic package prevent the switch from being set to continuously on to prevent the battery from draining. Church & Dwight uses the packaging for several of its Arm & Hammer-branded battery-powered toothbrushes.
Church & Dwight is seeking an injunction preventing Colgate from infringing on the patents and unspecified damages in a jury trial.