Briefs

Kraft sued over coffee container

LOS ANGELES -- Procter & Gamble Co. said Monday it sued Northfield-based Kraft Foods Inc. because it claims a new plastic container for Kraft's Maxwell House coffee infringes on a patent for P&G's Folgers coffee. P&G said the plastic coffee container it introduced in 2003 has "many innovations" that are covered by patents. "I can tell you that Kraft respects valid patent rights of others and abides by all appropriate U.S. patent laws," Kraft spokeswoman Renee Zahery said.

Factory work rises in Midwest states

CHICAGO -- Manufacturing activity in five Midwestern states was up in July, rising 0.6 percent from June, according to figures released Monday by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. The July index, which covers Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, and Wisconsin, climbed to 106.0, from an upwardly revised 105.3 in June. The Chicago Fed had initially pegged the June index at 104.9. While indicating economic growth in the factory sector, the latest numbers were compiled before problems in U.S. subprime mortgages spilled over to broader credit markets and sparked concerns about a potential economic slowdown.

YouTube criticized in Germany

FRANKFURT -- Video-sharing Web site YouTube has met with harsh criticism in Germany for hosting clips that incite racial hatred, according to a news report on German public TV. Among objectionable material are two music videos of outlawed German far-right rock band Landser, which show footage from World War II depicting Nazi military operations. Some of the material has been on the site for almost a year. Google Germany, whose parent company owns YouTube, was not immediately available for comment.

Delta chief's salary set

ATLANTA -- Delta Air Lines Inc.'s incoming chief executive Richard Anderson will be paid an annual salary of $600,000 and could earn another $15 million in performance-based incentives, according to documents filed Monday by the airline.