There’s been a clash between two condom titans following the patent infringement lawsuit brought by Ansell Holdings against Reckitt Benckiser.
The Australian firm is suing Reckitt Benckiser for a patent infringement regarding the Durex RealFeel condom, which Ansell say is an infringement on its non-latex Skyn condom line. The company cited the Durex RealFeel condom was an infringement on its European patent number 2,280,618, “Dip-formed synthetic polyisoprene latex articles with improved intraparticle and interparticle crosslinks”.
Ansell is requesting that Reckitt Benckiser cease importation of the Durex RealFeel condom into the UK and an injunction against the sale of the product there.
Bill Reilly, Senior Vice President and Corporate General Counsel at Ansell, said, ““Ansell is a global leader in the development and commercialization of condoms and surgical gloves utilizing patented polyisoprene technology.
“The Company has made significant R&D investments in this technology and related patents and this lawsuit seeks to protect these investments.”
It is the third filing Ansell has brought against Reckitt Benckiser, with the first suit being filed against Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare Australia and its related UK entity, Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare in November 2014 – a decision for this is expected later this year. Meanwhile a second suit was filed in October 2015 in the US District Court, with a trial date scheduled for 2018.
