Bayer Sued Over Alleged US GMO Corn Seed Monopoly
Iowa-based Latham Quality filed a class action lawsuit alleging Bayer used anti-competitive practices to maintain control over Roundup-resistant corn technology after patents expired. The complaint claims Bayer retaliated against independent companies that attempted to develop generic seed versions.
BAYER AG-REG faces a federal lawsuit from Latham Quality alleging it used anti-competitive practices to monopolize the U.S. genetically engineered corn seed market. The Iowa-based seed company seeks treble damages for what it claims are hundreds of millions in ill-gotten gains. This litigation adds to the legal pressure on the Germany-based firm as it manages thousands of existing Roundup-related cancer claims.
### Allegations of Predatory Market Control Latham Quality filed the proposed class action in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, which was made public on Tuesday evening. The lawsuit alleges that Bayer maintained a monopoly on seeds engineered to resist Roundup weedkiller even after its NK603 patent expired in 2022. According to the complaint, Bayer prohibited independent companies from using its genetic material to develop generic alternatives.
