Novozymes prevails in patent trial against Danisco
A ruling was issued in the US legal proceedings between Novozymes and Danisco. Novozymes won the case which has lasted 1½ years and concerned an infringement of one of Novozymes´patents on enzymes for bioethanol. The case started in the fall of 2004 when Novozymes discovered that Genencor International Inc (later bought by Danisco) was selling enzymes protected by Novozymes´patent rights to the American ethanol market.
Kristian Merser, general counsel in Novozymes states: "We are very pleased with the decision but we are obviously annoyed by the harm the patent infringement has caused on our market for biofuel enzymes. It´s very satisfactory that the court agreed that our patent is valid and has been infringed - considering the large amount of resources we use on research, development and patenting."
Danisco announced that the company has withdrawn the product that infringed Novozymes' patent (Spezyme(R) Ethyl) from the market. The size of the damages will be decided in the fall. Novozymes has claimed several million US dollars in damages for loss of profits.
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