BASF lawsuit claims Makhteshim Agan, Control Solutions, and Do It Yourself Pest Company violate BASF patent rights

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, March 20, 2013 -- BASF today announced it has asked the United States District Court of Northern Georgia to find Makhteshim Agan, its subsidiary Control Solutions, Inc. (CSI), and Do It Yourself Pest Control, Inc., are violating BASF patent rights in the manufacture and sale of fipronil-based termiticides/insecticides. Specifically, products produced by MANA and CSI, and distributed by Do It Yourself Pest Control, violate the manufacturing patent known as the ‘945 patent.

BASF has identified certain chemical impurities in Taurus^® SC, the fipronil-based termiticide produced and marketed by Control Solutions, Inc. that clearly establish that the MANA/CSI product was manufactured using the process protected by the ‘945 patent.

“Intellectual property is the cornerstone of our innovation-based marketplace,” said Jan Buberl, Director of Specialty Products, BASF North American Crop Protection.  “Improper activity that undermines patent protection laws is unfair to those who act properly and lawfully.”

For more information about BASF Pest Control Solutions or to find a BASF Sales Specialist in your area, please visit pestcontrol.basf.us.

About the Crop Protection division

With sales of around € 4.7 billion in 2012, BASF’s Crop Protection division provides innovative solutions in crop protection, turf and ornamental plants, pest control and public health. Its portfolio also includes technologies for seed treatment and biological control as well as solutions to manage water, nutrients and plant stress. BASF’s Crop Protection division is a leading innovator that supports growers to optimize agricultural production, improve their business efficiency and enhance the quality of life for a growing world population. Further information can be found on the web at www.agro.basf.com or follow us on our social media channels.

BASF - The Chemical Company

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 16,900 employees in North America, and had sales of $18.7 billion in 2012. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.us.

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Through science and innovation, we enable our customers in nearly every industry to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring nutrition and improving quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF posted sales of €78.7 billion in 2012 and had more than 113,000 employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

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