The parent company of Boston-based Gillette filed a lawsuit against Dollar Shave Club on Thursday, arguing that the upstart is violating Gillette’s intellectual property.

Proctor & Gamble’s suit, filed in federal court in Delaware, alleges that Dollar Shave Club infringed on Gillette’s patented technology. The suit specifically targets Dollar Shave Club’s razors “The Humble Twin,’’ “The 4X,’’ and “The Executive.’’ The suit seeks unspecified damages.

“Our patents help protect the many technical advancements we’ve made through the years – and when it becomes necessary, we take action to protect these important assets,’’ Deborah P. Majoras, chief legal officer of Proctor & Gamble, said in a statement.


A spokesperson for Dollar Shave Club said the company “is looking into it but doesn’t have a comment at this time.’’

Dollar Shave Club sends its two million members periodic shipments of razors and shaving cream. The company pioneered the rapidly growing market of an online subscription service for razors and its accoutrements in recent years.

Gillette controls about 60 percent of the shaving retail market, but just a fifth of the shaving online market. Gillette ramped up promotions for its online subscription service called the Gillette Shave Club earlier this year.

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