Florham Park, New Jersey
June 1, 2009
Today,
BASF filed a lawsuit in the
United States District Court for the District of Delaware
against DuPont (E. l. du
Pont de Nemours and Company) for infringement of BASF’s patented
technology that confers tolerance to a key class of herbicides.
Specifically, DuPont’s Optimum GAT corn product incorporates
BASF’s patented promoter which is an important genetic component
that enables successful tolerance toward an herbicide class
known as AHAS or ALS inhibitors.
BASF Plant Science GmbH seeks an injunction and damages against
DuPont and its subsidiary Pioneer Hi-Bred International for this
unlawful use of BASF’s patented technology. In the same action,
BASF Plant Science seeks to declare invalid and unenforceable
DuPont patents for technology relating to herbicide tolerance.
“BASF Plant Science, as a leading provider of advanced traits
and technology in the plant biotechnology area, is committed to
vigorously protecting its intellectual property and to defending
against the assertion of invalid and unenforceable patents.
After prolonged discussions with DuPont failed to yield an
acceptable commercial solution, BASF decided to enforce its
rights by filing this lawsuit,” stated Hans Kast, BASF Plant
Science President and CEO.
BASF has learned that subsequent to its filing, DuPont filed a
separate action concerning the same subject matter.
BASF - The Chemical Company. We don't make a lot of the
products you buy.
We make a lot of the products you buy better.®
BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is
the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany.
BASF has more than 15,000 employees in North America, and had
sales of approximately $17.5 billion in 2008. For more
information about BASF’s North American operations, or to sign
up to receive news releases by e-mail, visit
www.basf.com/usa.
BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical
Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics and
performance products to agricultural products, fine chemicals,
as well as oil and gas. As a reliable partner, BASF helps its
customers in virtually all industries to be more successful.
With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF
plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges,
such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and
mobility. BASF has approximately 97,000 employees and posted
sales of more than €62 billion in 2008. BASF shares are traded
on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and
Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the
Internet at www.basf.com.
About BASF Plant Science
BASF consolidated its plant biotechnology activities in BASF
Plant Science in 1998. Today, about 700 employees are working to
optimize crops for more efficient agriculture, renewable raw
materials and healthier nutrition for humans and animals.
Projects include yield increase in staple crops, higher content
of Omega-3s in oil crops for preventing cardiovascular diseases,
and potatoes with optimized starch composition for industrial
use. To find out more about BASF Plant Science, please see our
internet web site at :
http://www.basf.com/biotechnology . |
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