St. Louis, Missouri
June 17, 2009
DuPont today filed an answer and counterclaims to a recent
Monsanto lawsuit that seeks to block farmers' access to
innovative new soybean lines from DuPont business Pioneer-Hi
Bred. These soybeans would contain Pioneer's proprietary
Optimum® GAT® trait and - through Monsanto's royalty-bearing
license agreement - the Roundup Ready® trait.
In its federal court filing here today, DuPont affirmed that
combining, or "stacking," of Optimum® GAT® and Roundup Ready®
technologies is clearly within its rights under the license
agreement with Monsanto. DuPont also said that patents relating
to Monsanto's Roundup Ready® soybeans are invalid and,
therefore, are not infringed when Optimum® GAT® and Roundup
Ready® traits are "stacked" in soybeans. In addition, DuPont is
seeking broad relief under anti-trust laws that would end
Monsanto's multifaceted, anti-competitive scheme to unlawfully
restrict competition.
"We believe we have every right through our existing Monsanto
license agreement to 'stack' our Optimum® GAT® trait with
Pioneer soybean genetics already containing a Roundup Ready®
trait," said DuPont Group Vice President James C. Borel. "We
will vigorously defend our rights to bring valuable new
technologies to the market.
"Monsanto's lawsuit is another tactic used to restrict the
availability of competitive products. Farmers want and deserve
diverse technology options that can best satisfy their specific
needs to help meet the increasing global demands for
agriculture. Advancements in agriculture productivity, for
example, hinge on having technology options available in the
market. Our proprietary Optimum® GAT® trait combined with the
Roundup Ready® trait in elite Pioneer soybean genetics would be
superior to any other product on the market - better yields and
broader, more flexible weed control options," Borel added. "The
seed industry, U.S. growers, and, ultimately, consumers are best
served when seed companies can assemble the best combinations of
traits and germplasm for their customers - without the
anti-competitive restrictions imposed by Monsanto."
DuPont's counterclaims are available by
clicking here.
DuPont is a science-based products and services company.
Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating
sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier
life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries,
DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services
for markets including agriculture and food; building and
construction; communications; and transportation.
The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPontTM, The miracles of scienceTM and
Optimum® GAT® are registered trademarks or trademarks of DuPont
or its affiliates.
Roundup Ready® is a registered trademark used under license from
Monsanto. |
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