The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia recently ruled in favor of MeadWestvaco Corp. on the patent infringement claims in its lawsuit against competitors Rexam America and Valois of America. According to MWV, the Court found Rexam America 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. 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. Introduced in 2006, MWV’s NoC dip tube uses light-refractive technology to “virtually disappear” when it comes in contact with a fragrance solution. MWV has held exclusive U.S. patents on the technology since May 2010. More recently the company has been granted patents for the No dip tube in Russia, Mexico, South Africa and an allowance status in China, with other patents pending in many other parts of the world.

“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.