Monsanto Co Sues Rival E.I. Du Pont de Nemours and Co for Copying Seed Technology-Reuters

Reuters reported that Monsanto Co is suing chief rival E.I. Du Pont de Nemours and Co (Du Pont), accusing DuPont and its agricultural crop subsidiary of treading on Monsanto's technological turf by copying key new plant breeding innovations. Monsanto's suit claims that a seed chipping invention, which it unveiled in 2007 as a way to speed up plant breeding, has been duplicated by DuPont in a laser-assisted seed selection tool introduced in 2008. Monsanto claims its business is suffering irreparable harm as a result. DuPont spokesman Dan Turner said the lawsuit was without merit. 'Monsanto continues to use litigation in an attempt to limit Pioneer from being an effective competitor,' he said. 'This tactic has not worked in previous cases, and it will not work in this matter.' Monsanto spokesman Tom Helscher said the Company would not comment on its lawsuit, which was filed Monday in U.S. District Court in St. Louis. Monsanto is seeking a permanent injunction and treble damages for what it calls willful infringement. Monsanto claims their copied technology was used by DuPont in development of its Optimum AQUAmax corn, which DuPont launched last year. DuPont markets the corn as helping deliver a yield advantage in water-limited environments.