Madison, Wis., Nov. 1 - Kraft Foods Inc. has filed a lawsuit against Procter & Gamble Co. related to its use of a plastic container for its Folger's coffee brand.
In the suit, Kraft alleges that a plastic container for the brand infringes on Kraft's patents in use with its Maxwell House brand.
The case was filed Monday in U.S. District Court in the Western District of Wisconsin.
Kraft is seeking unspecified damages. The Northfield, Ill., company also wants Procter & Gamble to stop sales of the Folger's plastic coffee container, saying Kraft will be harmed if those sales continue.
The suit follows one filed by P&G against Kraft on Aug. 27 in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in San Francisco. In that case, Cincinnati-based P&G sought a similar patent infringement ruling involving a different patent that it alleges Kraft uses in plastic containers for Maxwell House.
That case also sought unspecified damages and an injunction to prevent Kraft from selling the coffee in the packaging.
But a judge last month granted Kraft's motion to put that case on hold pending a review of the patent.
Kraft spokeswoman Renee Zahery said the company is constantly monitoring for patent violations.
"We enforce our rights where necessary and appropriate," she said in an email.
A spokesman for P&G did not immediately return a message left seeking comment.