Sharp testimony in patent trial

BOSTON (AP) -- A senior Gillette executive testified Wednesday that rival Schick-Wilkinson Sword's new four-bladed razor Quattro could cause irreparable harm to her company, which is asking a judge to pull the product from shelves.
The testimony in Boston federal court of Mary Ann Pesce, Gillette's vice president of new shaving systems and emerging technologies, echoed documents previously submitted into evidence calling it "doubtful whether Gillette can ever fully repair the damage" from Quattro's launch.
"We've lost [customers] already," she said. "Once you lose someone, you could lose someone for 10, 20, 30 years."
Schick-Wilkinson Sword debuted the product in August, only to be slapped hours later by Gillette's lawsuit alleging it copies technology patented by Gillette for its three-bladed razors.