Nestlé has begun legal action against US manufacturer Sara Lee, which it claims has infringed patents for its Nespresso at-home coffee system.

The Swiss fmcg giant has kicked off the legal challenge in France, where Sara Lee recently launched its L’Or Espresso pod coffee brand.

Nestlé, which also owns the Nescafe coffee brand, holds around 1,700 patents for the Nespresso system, according to the Financial Times.

“We will always take appropriate steps to defend our intellectual property rights when these have been infringed,” Nestlé said in a statement.

Responding to the allegations, Sara Lee said: “We are confident that our product complies with all legal and regulatory requirements and are confident about the outcome of this case.”

Read more
Focus On Hot Beverages (12 September 2009)
Wake-up call for Nescafé (analysis; 29 August 2009)