P&G sues J&J over tooth-whitening strip patent

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Procter & Gamble Co (PG.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Friday it sued Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N: Quote, Profile, Research), claiming that J&J's Listerine Whitening Quick Dissolving Strips violate P&G patents.

The lawsuit, filed on Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, alleges that the Listerine strips infringe P&G patents related to the tooth whitening active ingredient and delivery systems.

P&G has asked the court to stop J&J and its company, McNeil-PPC, from making, selling, and importing allegedly infringing products. P&G also is seeking recovery of damages.

P&G introduced Crest Whitestrips in 2000.

A spokeswoman for J&J declined to comment on pending litigation.

(Reporting by Lisa Baertlein, editing by Richard Chang)