The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia ruled in favor of the fragrance packager, finding that Rexam and Valois of America directly infringed against MWV's U.S. patents for a fragrance dispensing system called the NoC dip tube (patent numbers 7,718,132 and 7,722,819).
This follows the Court's August 18 ruling that found MWV's U.S. patents on the NoC dip tube valid and enforceable.
Results game
As a result, the Court granted MWV's demand for injunctive relief against these competing companies, the terms of which will be framed by the Court at a later time.
"We are thrilled the Court agreed with us in this matter. It validates our continued efforts to produce significant innovations and intellectual property for our beauty and personal care customers," said Mark Cross, senior vice president, MWV.
"This technology was long sought in the fragrance industry and it was MWV who brought the innovation to the market. We are pleased to continue to provide our customers and the industry with the only solution that offers a high-tech, miniature and discrete dispensing solution to luxury fragrance packaging."
Aesthetic value
The NoC dip tube uses light-refractive technology to give the impression it is not there when it comes in contact with a fragrance solution.
In addition to the clear aesthetic value that the fragrance dispensing system brings to luxury brands, the technology also helps to identify and prevent counterfeit fragrances in the marketplace.
MWV has held exclusive U.S. patents on this technology since May 2010, and more recently has been granted patents for the NoC dip tube in Russia, Mexico, South Africa and an allowance status in China, with other patents pending in many other parts of the world.