ADVANTAGE: SCHICK - In a mega-litigation action between the #1 and #2 razor makers, a German court ruled today that Energizer Holdings Inc.'s four-bladed Quattro razor does not infringe Gillette Co.'s European patent on three-bladed progressive exposure.

Energizer, which purchased razor maker Schick Wilkinson Sword last year, said the German court ordered Gillette to reimburse Energizer's court costs, but it does not yet know what the reimbursement amount would be.

Gillette said it disagreed with the German Patent Trial Court's decision. The company plans to appeal and continue related litigation that includes additional claims.

The U.S. litigation is still ongoing, but Judge Patti Saris of the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts in January rejected a bid to halt Quattro sales on grounds the device infringes on the patent for Gillette's three-bladed Mach3 razor.