Gillette suing Dollar Shave Club for patent infringement

The suit, filed in federal court in DE, says Dollar Shave Club products infringe on a 2004 Gillette patent related to an “overcoat layer” used in the manufacturing of its razors.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and an injunction to prevent Dollar Shave Club from selling any products infringing Gillette’s patented technology.

Gillette’s owner, Procter & Gamble, announced on Thursday the lawsuit that accuses the Dollar Shave Club of violation of intellectual property rights, due to unauthorized use of Gillette’s patented technology, which is prohibited and meant to protect a significant investment by Gillette in razor technology.

While being a leader in today’s razor technology, it did not move quickly enough with the shave clubs, which are online subscription models that deliver razors as well as accessories to the door of those who buy them.

Bearded Jake Gyllenhaal is no longer in the Gillette or Dollar Shave Club target market. Gillette razors have also won accolades and endorsements from grooming experts, dermatologists and skin experts around the world.

A Dollar Shave Club spokesperson said the company “is looking into it but doesn’t have a comment at this time”. Gillette alleges in the suit that DSC violated Gillette’s patented razor technology.

Dollar Shave Club is a subscription service that sends customers new blade cartridges each month. The company cited “lower volume in Blades & Razors due to competitive activity and previous fiscal year price increases”. Procter & Gamble does not publicly separate Gillette out from its family of grooming businesses, but reported that its grooming businesses’ third-quarter net sales this year dropped to $1.7 billion, down 14% from last year.