P&G sues RNA over Herbal Essences patents

CINCINNATI Procter & Gamble has filed a lawsuit against RNA Corp. alleging that the company has infringed on P&G’s Herbal Essences intellectual property, including trademark, trade dress and design patents.

“We believe this is a clear case of infringement designed to take advantage of the Herbal Essences’ business and its consumer loyalty,” stated Steven Jemison, P&G chief legal officer. “This is a serious case of intellectual property infringement, and we are asking the court to stop the distribution of these products to protect the equity of Herbal Essences.”

A spokesperson for RNA Corp. was not immediately available for comment.

The suit, filed in the Southern District of Ohio in Cincinnati, involves the company’s Herbal Essences logo and the design of the shampoo and conditioners bottles.

According to P&G, RNA Corp. is distributing shampoo and conditioner under the name Hydrating Herbal Shampoo and Hydrating Herbal Conditioner, which infringe the Herbal Essences intellectual property rights. P&G is asking RNA Corp. to be ordered to stop distributing the products, to recall the existing inventory from store shelves and the destroy the bottle molds.