St. Louis Post-Dispatch
09-05-07
MONSANTO: Patent dispute settled
Monsanto Co. and the Iowa State University Research Foundation said
Tuesday that they have settled a patent dispute and laid the groundwork for
future research collaborations. The foundation in May sued Monsanto, claiming
the Creve Coeur-based company infringed on patents held by an ISU researcher
in commercializing its Vistive soyeans.
The soybeans produce cooking oil that is shelf-stable without being partially
hydrogenized, the process that creates unhealthy trans fats. Monsanto receives
a commercial license from the foundation for current and future products similar
to the Vistive technology. Monsanto also is granting to the university a research
license for the use of its Roundup RReady2Yield soybeans, which are genetically
modified for increased yield.