ITC Begins Section 337 Patent Investigation on Herbicide Sulfentrazone

The International Trade Commission on April 9 voted to begin a Section 337 investigation into patent infringement by the herbicide sulfentrazone. FMC Corporation had requested the investigation in early March, alleging Beijing Nutrachem and Jiangxi Heyi manufacture sulfentrazone in China using FMC Corporation’s patented processes, and the chemical is subsequently imported into the U.S. by Summit Agro and sold under the trade names Blanket 4F, SFZ 4SC, and SAUSX-O1. FMC Corporation is requesting temporary limited exclusion orders and cease and desist orders while the ITC conducts the investigation, as well as permanent limited exclusion orders and cease and desist orders against import and sale in the U.S. of patent-infringing sulfentrazone by the following respondents: