Seed Wars - Monsant VS DuPont

[zorgon]

Seed Wars - Monsant VS DuPont

Monsanto v Dupont, 09-cv-00686

Monsanto Sues DuPont to Stop Use of Roundup Genes

May 5 (Bloomberg) -- Monsanto Co., the world's biggest seed maker, sued DuPont Co. to prevent it from producing Roundup herbicide-resistant corn and soybean seeds by combining Monsanto's genetic traits with its own.

DuPont is violating Monsanto's U.S. contract rights and patents by using the Roundup Ready trait with DuPont's so-called GAT genetics, Monsanto said today. Monsanto is seeking to stop DuPont from infringing on its Roundup Ready patent and to terminate the soybean-license agreement, according to the lawsuit filed yesterday in federal court in St. Louis.

DuPont since 2005 has said its GAT technology would be an alternative to Roundup Ready crops, which tolerate applications of glyphosate herbicide. DuPont last year reversed course to include Roundup Ready technology in its Optimum GAT soybeans, scheduled for sale in 2011, prompting St. Louis-based Monsanto to enter into dispute resolution.

"As the saying goes, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery," Monsanto Chief Executive Officer Hugh Grant said today in a statement. "However, unlawfully taking technology is neither imitation nor flattery. It is unethical and wrong."

DuPont, the No. 2 seedmaker, said Monsanto is trying to stifle competition at the expense of improved crop yields for farmers. Companies should be allowed to combine genetic traits in their seeds "without restrictions imposed by trait providers," DuPont said in a statement.

'We Have A Right'

Source: Bloomberg

DuPont counter-sues Monsanto in seed dispute

DuPont counter-sues Monsanto in seed dispute
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
By Matt Daily

NEW YORK - Chemicals maker DuPont (DD.N) launched a counter-lawsuit against rival seedmaker Monsanto Co (MON.N) on Tuesday to force the company to allow it to sell its own products with Monsanto's genetically modified soybeans.

The lawsuit is the latest fight in the battle for the rights to new biotechnology that could be worth billions of dollars in sales to farmers worldwide who are seeking boost crop yields and profits.

DuPont's suit, filed in the U.S. District Court in St. Louis, comes a month after Monsanto sued DuPont's Pioneer Hi-Bred International business, contending it had breached its license to market Roundup Ready soybean and corn seeds that are modified to be more tolerant of herbicides.

In a statement, DuPont said it is allowed to combine, or "stack," the genetic traits of its Optimum GAT technology with Roundup Ready under its rights in a licensing agreement with Monsanto, and that Monsanto's patents around its soybean traits were invalid.

"Monsanto's lawsuit is another tactic used to restrict the availability of competitive products," DuPont Vice President James Borel said in a statement.

http://checkbiotech.org/node/26301

UPDATE 3-DuPont counter-sues Monsanto in seed dispute

DuPont says Monsanto patents are invalid

* DuPont shares fall 2.3 pct, Monsanto down 3.9 pct (Adds Monsanto comment)

(Reuters) - Chemicals maker DuPont (DD.N) launched a counter-lawsuit against rival seedmaker Monsanto Co (MON.N) on Tuesday to force the company to allow it to sell its own products with Monsanto's genetically modified soybeans.

The lawsuit is the latest fight in the battle for the rights to new biotechnology that could be worth billions of dollars in sales to farmers worldwide who are seeking boost crop yields and profits.

SOURCE: Reuters

[zorgon]

Solution to GM Crops