Bayer CropScience LP announced that it intends to vigorously defend its intellectual property rights in the wake of a suit filed by Etigra, LLC, regarding Bayer’s patented use of the pesticide imidacloprid on fertilizer.
On March 19, Etigra announced that it had filed suit against Bayer CropScience, claiming its method of formulating imidacloprid on fertilizer does not violate the Bayer-owned patent. Bayer is disappointed by the Etigra action, but is confident that Bayer’s patented uses will be upheld.
Bayer invented the novel mixture of imidacloprid on fertilizer, sold by Bayer Environmental Science as the brand name product Merit; and it has been on the market for more than 10 years. This
patented technology revolutionized insect control on lawns and golf courses while providing significant application convenience to users.
Research efforts from companies like Bayer CropScience are based on a foundation of respect for intellectual property rights, which enables significant investments in order to generate future technical innovations.
Bayer Environmental Science, a business group of Bayer CropScience, provides products to professionals and consumers for turf and ornamentals, termite control, general insect control and vector control applications.