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Bayer Environmental Science Protects Intellectual Properties |
Research
Triangle Park, N.C., Aug. 2, 2007 - Bayer
Environmental Science is pleased that Etigra LLC has agreed to cease sales and to
recall Etigra products that Bayer considers to infringe one of its patents.
Bayer Environmental Science asserted that two termiticide products
recently introduced by Etigra, Imida E-Pro 2F Pre/Post Construction Insecticide
and Imida E-Pro 75 WSP Pre/Post Construction Insecticide, infringe Bayer's U.S.
Patent No. 6,323,224 protecting the use of imidacloprid on wood products.
Bayer invented and introduced to the market the novel use of
imidacloprid to treat wood structures and surfaces. Research efforts from
companies like Bayer are based on a foundation of respect for intellectual
property rights that enables significant investments in order to generate
future technical innovations.
Separately, Bayer continues to pursue its counterclaims in a pending
lawsuit in regard to Bayer's patented use of imidacloprid on fertilizer, and
has filed an additional counterclaim of copyright infringement for infringement
of several of Bayer's product labels. The Bayer lawsuit counters a legal action initiated by
Etigra, seeking a declaratory judgment that Etigra's method of formulating
imidacloprid on fertilizer does not violate the Bayer-owned patent.
Bayer invented
the mixture of imidacloprid on fertilizer, sold as the brand name product Merit®
Plus Turf Fertilizer; and users have enjoyed its benefits for over 10 years. This patented
technology revolutionized insect control on lawns and golf courses while
providing significant application convenience to users.
Bayer Environmental Science, a business operations unit of Bayer
CropScience, is a leader in environmental science and provides innovative
products to professionals and consumers for turf and ornamentals, termite
control, general insect control and vector control applications.
Bayer CropScience LP is the U.S.
business of Bayer CropScience, which has its global headquarters in Monheim, Germany.
Bayer CropScience, a subsidiary of Bayer AG with annual sales of about EUR 5.7
billion (2006), is one of the world's leading innovative crop science companies
in the areas of crop protection; non-agricultural pest control, including consumer
lawn and garden; seeds; and plant biotechnology. The company offers an
outstanding range of products and extensive service backup for modern,
sustainable agriculture and for non-agricultural applications. Bayer
CropScience has a global workforce of about 17,900 and is represented in more
than 120 countries, ensuring proximity to dealers and consumers.
Contact:
Greg Coffey,
Phone: 919-549-2404
E-mail:
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Forward-Looking Statements
This
news release contains forward-looking statements based on current assumptions
and forecasts made by Bayer Group management. Various known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the
actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the
company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in
our public reports filed with the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission (including our Form 20-F). The company
assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or
to conform them to future events or developments.
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