DuPont sues Invista over trade secrets, patents

11 November 2008 15:56  [Source: ICIS news]

TORONTO (ICIS news)--DuPont has filed a lawsuit against Invista over alleged misappropriation of trade secrets and proprietary information relating to DuPont's nylon engineering resins business, DuPont said on Tuesday.

 

An official at Invista’s offices in Wichita, Kansas, had no immediate comment.

 

DuPont said Invista misappropriated DuPont’s trade secrets, infringed on its patents and breached a “patent and technical information agreement” between the two companies.

 

Under the terms of that agreement, Invista was not allowed to use DuPont technology to make nylon 6,6 engineering resins for several years, DuPont said.

 

“DuPont is seeking a permanent injunction, declaratory relief and damages relating to the Invista production of nylon 6,6 engineering resins,” it said.

 

Last month, a US judge rejected a lawsuit by Invista against DuPont and Rhodia over alleged misuse of trade secrets related to adiponitrile (ADN), an intermediate used to make nylon 6,6.

 

Earlier this year, Invista filed a lawsuit against DuPont seeking over $800m (€624m) for alleged violations of safety and environmental regulations at 14 plants DuPont sold to Invista in 2004.

 

Invista was formed in 2004 after privately owned Koch Industries acquired DuPont’s textiles and interiors business in a $4.4bn deal and merged it with its Kosa fibres business.

 

($1 = €0.78)

 

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By: Stefan Baumgarten
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