P&G sues Kraft over coffee container

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Procter & Gamble, the maker of Folgers coffee, has filed a patent suit against Kraft Foods, alleging that the design of a new Maxwell House container infringes on its patents, it said Monday.

P&G (Charts, Fortune 500) said it had introduced plastic Folgers containers in 2003 that were popular with consumers, with innovations that were covered by patents.

"We made large investments to overcome the technical challenges in making a lightweight plastic container that can withstand the pressure changes that occur between the factory and the consumer's home," said Jim Johnson, P&G chief legal officer, in a statement.

"Many innovations in this container are covered by P&G patents, which we believe Maxwell House has infringed. We must protect our intellectual property," he added.

The lawsuit seeks to have Kraft stop selling the allegedly infringing Maxwell House package, as well as compensation for damages. It was filed in the U.S. Federal District Court for the Northern District of California in San Francisco.

Shares of Kraft (Charts) fell 0.2 percent in Monday trade.