Dollar Shave Club Files Countersuit Against Gillette
by
Michael Lawrence Greenberg on Oct. 16, 2017
Summary: Dollar Shave Club has entered a countersuit against Gillette in an ongoing lawsuit alleging intellectual property violation.
Dollar Shave Club has entered a countersuit against Gillette in an ongoing lawsuit alleging intellectual property violation.
Two months ago, Gillette sued Dollar Shave Club, claiming that Dollar Shave Club, a subscription service, had violated a patent that reduces the wear and tear on razor blades, allowing them to last longer. In its countersuit filed in U.S. District Court in the state of Delaware, Dollar Shave Club denies having in any way ever infringed on Gillette’s patent.
“Dollar Shave Club does not infringe on any valid and enforceable claim of the Gillette patent,” the company said in a statement. “We will vigorously defend ourselves and our three million members against these meritless claims.
“We prefer to have the Dollar Shave Club experience speak for itself in the marketplace,” the company added, “and we are not intimidated by Gillette’s attempts to thwart competition with litigation.”
Gillette, which is owned by parent company, Procter & Gamble, responded in a statement that the countersuit is meritless, and that it will protect its innovation “and the scientists behind it.”
At issue is the highly competitive online sales market for razors. Gillette currently enjoys approximately 60% of the retail market for shaving products currently; however, this market is shrinking in favor of consumers saving money online through other retailers and subscription services such as that of Dollar Shave Club.
Patents and trade secrets are closely guarded by companies because often it takes a great deal of time, money and research to develop a product or service. When someone else copies ideas that are patented, that can lead to a monetary loss or loss of viability in the marketplace to competitors. Time and the courts will tell if any infringement of Gillette’s patent has occurred or not.
At Greenberg & Lieberman, we know how to protect the intellectual property of our clients and we know how patents, trademarks and all aspects of intellectual property laws work.
