Aussie firm Ansell suing Reckitt over their rubbers

Australian rubber manufacturer Ansell announced on Thursday that it filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare UK, for their distribution of the ‘Durex RealFeel’ condom.

The ASX-traded firm said the action, filed in the High Court in London, followed similar lawsuits against Reckitt Benckiser in Australia and the US, and alleged infringement of Ansell’s European Patent number 2 280 618 which is entitled ‘Dip-formed Synthetic Polyisoprene Latex Articles with Improved Intraparticle and Interparticle Crosslinks’.

Ansell said the new lawsuit against Reckitt Benckiser marked the third patent infringement suit it had filed against Reckitt Benckiser over the last three years.

As part of a global strategy to safeguard its intellectual property and protect its non-latex ‘SKYN’ condom product line, Ansell filed a first patent infringement suit against Reckitt Benckiser’s Australian and UK operations in the New South Wales District Registry of the Federal Court of Australia in November 2014.

A decision from the Australian court was expected later this year.

In addition, in October 2015, Ansell filed a second patent infringement suit against Reckitt Benckiser in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware.

Ansell said it was now requesting a permanent injunction to stop Reckitt Benckiser from infringing European Patent (UK) number 2 280 618.

In particular, Ansell was seeking an injunction to stop Reckitt Benckiser from importing the Durex RealFeel product into the UK, selling, supplying or otherwise disposing of the Durex RealFeel product in the UK, and offering to sell, supply or otherwise dispose of the Durex RealFeel product in the UK.

In addition, Ansell wanted damages, including lost profits, costs, interest and further relief as the court could deem appropriate.

“Ansell is a global leader in the development and commercialisation of condoms and surgical gloves utilising patented polyisoprene technology,” said senior vice president and corporate general counsel Bill Reilly.

“The company has made significant research and development investments in this technology and related patents, and this lawsuit seeks to protect these investments.”

At the time of publication, Digital Look had reached out to Reckitt Benckiser for comment on the lawsuit. This story will be updated if a response is received.