2012/10/03

Kao Corporation (President and Chief Executive Officer: Michitaka Sawada; Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan) has announced a settlement with Henkel AG & Co. KGaA (Headquarters: Dusseldorf, Germany) and its group company Schwarzkopf & Henkel K.K. (Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan). Kao filed an infringement lawsuit in Germany regarding foam type hair color products Perfect Mousse and in Japan regarding foam type hair color products FRESH LIGHT Foam Type Color which allegedly infringes its intellectual property rights (German Utility Model No. 20 2004 021 775 and Japanese patent No. 4663772) in February 2011.
By this final settlement, which is based on a license from Kao to Henkel with the usual terms and conditions, Kao will withdraw the lawsuits in Germany and in Japan. Due to contractual obligations, the details of the agreement are confidential.

Kao values its intellectual properties including patents as its core critical management asset. In the case of Kao recognizing its patents as being infringed, the Company will continue to take a firm position on enforcing its rights.

  • Media inquiries should be directed to:

    Corporate Communications Department
    Kao Corporation

    Tel: +81-3-3660-7043

    Fax: +81-3-3660-7044

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