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April 9, 2006
Mary Kay, Sour Puss
Mary
Kay, cosmetics pink lady, has been ordered to to pay TriStrata Technology
$40 million for patent infringement related to skin cream used to treat wrinkles. This is an
interest add-on from a March 2005 $26 million judgment over patented alpha
hydroxy acid technology.
The court also placed an injunction against Mary Kay for three TriStrata patents that were part of the case.
TriStrata was founded by Drs. Ruey Yu and Eugene Van Scott, widely recognized as pioneers in skin care technology, credited with over 80 patents relating to alpha hydroxy acid. TriStrata has over 125 patents alpha hydroxy acids and other skin care technologies. Privately held NeoStrata is the parent company of TriStrata.
TriStrata has been successful in enforcing its patents. Over 40 companies in the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries have licensed TriStrata patents, including Avon, L'Oreal, Elizabeth Arden, Johnson & Johnson, Chanel, and Beiersdorf. Drug stores Walgreen, Rite Aid, and Long's are current facing infringement suits.
Posted by Patent Hawk at April 9, 2006 1:15 PM | Patents In Business