D. DEL.Litigation
Corteva and Inari settle Delaware seed patent dispute days into jury trial
Corteva Agriscience and gene-editing company Inari Agriculture settled their patent and plant variety protection litigation days into a jury trial in Delaware federal court over Inari's use of Corteva's patented corn and soybean seed deposits. Under a stipulated order of dismissal with prejudice signed by Judge John F. Murphy on September 28, Inari must destroy all Corteva biological materials within 30 days, assign its edited versions of Corteva traits to Corteva, and negotiate licensing agreements; other terms are confidential.
Filing (U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware) → · Reuters, The Patent Lawyer Magazine, Corteva Agriscience
Key points
- The trial began on September 23, 2026, before U.S. District Judge John F. Murphy in Wilmington, Delaware.ReutersThe Patent Lawyer Magazine
- Inari must file a declaration within 45 days confirming the destruction of all Corteva biological materials.U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware
- Corteva alleged Inari improperly obtained protected seed deposits from the American Type Culture Collection depository.The Patent Lawyer Magazine
- The Justice Department Antitrust Division filed a statement of interest in May 2026 on public access to patented biological material.The Patent Lawyer Magazine
- Financial terms were not disclosed; the companies said the remaining settlement terms are confidential.U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware
Sources4 articles across 4 outlets
Corteva Agriscience
Reuters
The Patent Lawyer Magazine
U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware