A suit was filed in the US District Court in Alexandria, VA, against these companies earlier this year for infringement of nine cocoa flavanol-related US patents owned by Mars.
These companies have agreed that these patents are valid and enforceable and they each will stop further sales and uses of the products that were accused of infringement in the lawsuit.
Mars uses the patented Cocoapro process to make Cirku cocoa flavanol supplement products. For nearly two decades, Mars has been studying the process of measuring and maximising the retention of cocoa flavanols and uncovering their related health benefits, resulting in more than 100 scientific publications and a broad patent portfolio.
Source: Mars Incorporated
© FoodBev Media Ltd 2024