P&G Files Lawsuit Against Mouthwash Manufacturer Vi-Jon

The Procter & Gamble Company PG filed today a lawsuit against Vi-Jon, Inc., a private-label manufacturer and distributor of mouthwash, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. The lawsuit alleges that Vi-Jon, Inc. is violating P&G's intellectual property by manufacturing and selling its private label mouthwash product to retailers. Vi-Jon's mouthwash product, specifically the bottle and label shape, infringe P&G's design patents, trade dress, trademarks and copyright relating to its Scope Outlast mouthwash. Vi-Jon's use of P&G's intellectual property without P&G's consent is prohibited by law, and can cause consumer confusion. P&G is suing Vi-Jon in order to protect its business and to prevent consumer confusion in the marketplace.