This case involves a patent infringement dispute between two major beverage can manufacturers. One of the companies, a leading manufacturer of polymeric coatings applied to the inside of beverage cans to protect the beverage from the metal, was accused of infringing on the patented polymer coating of one of its younger competitors. An expert with experience in the can industry was sought to help counsel understand the application of the coatings on a production line, including the ideal characteristics of coatings and the tests run to assess their quality.
Question(s) For Expert Witness
1. What experience do you have with can manufacturers and/or beverage companies?
2. What features would you look for and what tests would you perform when evaluating polymeric coatings from the major manufacturers?
Expert Witness Response E-127900
I am very familiar with how many beverage companies qualify coatings. In the global supply chain, we couldn't just rely on one supplier, so we would test and approve multiple coatings. Soft drink companies tend to use a heavier coating than beer companies because sodas are more acidic. The end customer would have to approve coatings for can manufacturers to use them. We would do stability testing and we would require manufacturers (under NDAs) to disclose the coating constituents for our food safety teams.
About the author
Victoria Negron
Victoria Negron has extensive experience in journalism and thought leadership in the legal space, with a background crafting content, whitepapers, webinars, and current event articles pertaining to the role of expert witnesses in complex litigation matters. She is a skilled professional specializing in B2B product marketing and content marketing. Currently, she serves as an Enterprise Product Marketing Manager at Postman, and previously held the position of Technical Product Marketing Manager at Palantir Technologies, where she developed her skills in launch strategies, go-to-market strategy, and competitive analysis.
Her expertise in content marketing was further refined during her tenure at the Expert Institute, where she progressed from a Marketing Writer to Senior Content Marketing Manager, and eventually to Associate Director of Content & Product Marketing. In these roles, she honed her abilities in digital marketing, SEO, content strategy, and thought leadership.
Educationally, Victoria holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Florida - Warrington College of Business and a Bachelor of Arts in Literature, Art, and Hispanic Studies from Hamilton College. Her diverse educational background and professional experience have equipped her with a robust skill set in product marketing, content development, and strategic marketing initiatives.
