FMC Corporation Prevails in Patent Dispute with Ecolab, Inc.
PHILADELPHIA, June 30, 2009 – The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has upheld a 2007 jury verdict finding that Ecolab, Inc., infringed FMC’s U.S. patent no. 5,632,676, relating to the use of peracetic acid to sanitize fowl. The Court of Appeals also invalidated all of Ecolab’s patent claims that Ecolab had asserted against FMC relating to the use of peracetic acid to treat meat and poultry.
FMC is pleased with the Court of Appeals’ decision as it confirms that FMC’s customers have the flexibility to use FMC’s Blitz™ and Spectrum™ biocides for direct meat and poultry carcass contact across a full range of FDA approved applications, said Scott Steffl, business development director of FMC’s Peroxygens Division.
“FMC’s perseverance in this case over the past four years demonstrates its commitment to the proteins industry and its continued belief that the Blitz and Spectrum programs represent the best pathogen control technologies available today,” said Steffl.
FMC Corporation is a diversified chemical company serving agricultural, industrial and consumer markets globally for more than a century with innovative solutions, applications and quality products. The company employs approximately 5,000 people throughout the world. The company operates its businesses in three segments: Agricultural Products, Specialty Chemicals and Industrial Chemicals.
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Act of 1995: Statements in this news release that are forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning specific factors described in FMC Corporation's 2008 Form 10-K and other SEC filings. Such information contained herein represents management's best judgment as of the date hereof based on information currently available. FMC Corporation does not intend to update this information and disclaims any legal obligation to the contrary. Historical information is not necessarily indicative of future performance.