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P&G Sues Over Teeth Whitening Products

5/22/2013
The Procter & Gamble Company filed a lawsuit on May 20, 2013 in the Southern District of Ohio against CAO Group, Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of dental products. The lawsuit alleges that CAO Group is violating P&G's intellectual property by manufacturing and selling its “Sheer White,” “Sheer FluorX” and “Sheer DesenZ” products. The unauthorized use of patented technology is prohibited by law. P&G is suing CAO Group in order to protect its investment in its technology and its Crest Whitestrips business, which revolutionized the process of at-home whitening.

“P&G has made significant investments in the innovations behind our Crest Whitestrips products. We treat infringements of our intellectual property rights protecting these innovations very seriously," says Deborah P. Majoras, chief legal officer of P&G. “By filing a lawsuit against CAO Group, we are taking steps to protect this investment and our business.”

In response on May 21, 2013, CAO Group, Inc. refuted lawsuit claims by P&G and affirmed that the advanced technology applied to its treatment film products, including Sheer White, Sheer DesenZ and Sheer FluorX for teeth whitening, desensitizing and fluoride treatment, respectively, is its own intellectual property. CAO believes that its products do not infringe any of P&G asserted patents and that the lawsuit was filed without any merit.

CAO says it developed and innovated its own proprietary technology for its Sheer White, Sheer FluorX and Sheer DesenZ products and is committed to intellectual property. As a result, the company is comprised of more than 150 issued and pending patents.

"As a company focused on innovating our own technology and securing our own patents, we are respectful of intellectual property rights and we will defend our Sheer White, Sheer FluorX and Sheer DesenZ products," says Terry Jones, general counsel of CAO.

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