P&G Sues Kraft Over Maxwell House Package

In 2003, Procter & Gamble introduced Folgers Coffee in a unique plastic container, which included a handle on the side for easier gripping. P&G says this innovation has grown the Folgers business for the past five years. So naturally, the company took notice when Kraft Foods introduced a somewhat similar container for its Maxwell House Coffee brand.

Procter & Gamble is suing Kraft Foods over the matter. The lawsuit, filed in the United States Federal District Court for the Southern District of Ohio in Cincinnati, alleges that the new four-pound plastic container for Maxwell House coffee, now being introduced in the U.S., directly infringes key Procter & Gamble patents on Folgers Coffee.

"We made large investments to overcome the technical challenges in making a lightweight plastic container that can withstand the pressure changes that occur between the factory and the consumer's home," said Steve Jemison, P&G chief legal officer. "Many innovations in this container are covered by P&G patents, which we believe Maxwell House has infringed. We must protect our intellectual property," he said.

Procter & Gamble’s lawsuit seeks to stop Kraft Foods from selling Maxwell House Coffee in the packaging. It also seeks recovery of damages.


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