Settlement reached in genetic material dispute between seed businesses

WILMINGTON, Del. – Syngenta and DuPont have announced an agreement that settles infringement claims between the seed businesses of the two companies.
The agreement settles claims Syngenta Seeds Inc. had brought against DuPont subsidiary Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc. in a 2002 patent infringement lawsuit involving Pioneer, Monsanto, Dow AgroSciences and Mycogen, a wholly owned affiliate of Dow AgroSciences. Under the agreement, Pioneer receives a commercial license to Syngenta patents relating to Herculex(1) and YieldGard(2) insect resistant corn traits.
The companies also settled claims Pioneer brought against Syngenta in 2002. Pioneer had asserted that Syngenta inappropriately acquired Pioneer proprietary genetic material 15 years ago through a practice known as “chasing selfs.” Syngenta has since terminated the practice.
Additional details of the agreements were not disclosed.
Syngenta’s ongoing lawsuit seeks damages and injunctive relief to stop Monsanto, Dow and Mycogen from selling Herculex(1) and YieldGard(2) insect resistant corn traits. Trial in this lawsuit has begun in a U.S. district court in Delaware.