Gillette Sues Dollar Shave Club Over Patented Technology ClaimsGrooming brand says competitor infringed on a 2004 patent involving a 'chromium-containing overcoat layer.'

Procter and Gamble's male grooming brand Gillette has filed a lawsuit against online competitor Dollar Shave Club for alleged use of its patented technology.

The suit, filed in federal court in Delaware, alleges that Dollar Shave Club infringed on a2004 Gillette patentthat involved a "chromium-containing overcoat layer" to strengthen razor blades. Gillette uses this coating on its Mach 3, Venus, Fusion products and other product lines, reportedThe Wall Street Journal.

Gillette, the world's largest maker of razors, has "reason to believe" that Dollar Shave Club was making changes to its products and using their patent, a spokesperson toldThe Journal. According toRe/code, Gillette is seeking monetary damages and a court order to stop Dollar Shave Club from selling infringing razors.

"We take every violation of our intellectual property seriously, and when necessary, we take legal action to defend our business as we have in the past and will continue to do in the future," P&G spokesman Damon Jones said toThe Journal.

吉列,它控制着大约60%的U.S. retail market for razors, has seen its market share slip as companies such as Dollar Shave Club and Harry's have leveraged the online space to sell their shavers and other related grooming products. In three years, Dollar Shave Clubhas around8 percent of the $3 billion U.S. market for razors and blades, while Gillette has around 20 percent.

Interestingly, as mentioned byRe/code, the suit does not name Dorco, the South Korean maker of Dollar Shave Club's razors. "[Dollar Shave Club is] actually selling the product and bringing it to market; that's why they are named in the suit," Jones toldRe/code.

A spokesperson for Dollar Shave Club said they have no comment at this time.