P&G sues J&J over tooth-whitening strip patent

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The lawsuit, filed on Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, alleges that the Listerine strips infringe P&G patents related to the tooth whitening active ingredient and delivery systems.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Procter & Gamble Co <PG.N> said on Friday it sued Johnson & Johnson <JNJ.N>, claiming that J&J's Listerine Whitening Quick Dissolving Strips violate P&G patents.

The lawsuit, filed on Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, alleges that the Listerine strips infringe P&G patents related to the tooth whitening active ingredient and delivery systems.

P&G has asked the court to stop J&J and its company, McNeil-PPC, from making, selling, and importing allegedly infringing products. P&G also is seeking recovery of damages.

P&G introduced Crest Whitestrips in 2000.

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A spokeswoman for J&J declined to comment on pending litigation.

(Reporting by Lisa Baertlein, editing by Richard Chang)