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Ethox Chemicals LLC, a small specialty chemical developer based in South Carolina, is suing Coca-Cola Co. over a new additive for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles [1], [2]. Ethox is claiming that the beverage giant misappropriated its molecule bis(2-phenoxyethyl) terephthalate (PEM), an additive designed to enhance the gas barrier properties of plastic containers made from PET. Ethox says PEM can be used to reduce gas permeation which might help extend bottled soda shelf-life and allow beer to be sold in PET bottles.

Recently, two cases involving IP theft advanced against two scientists.

A former Sanofi scientist accused of stealing trade secrets from Sanofi, a global drugmaker, has recently been sentenced to jail.

Four months after pleading guilty to stealing trade secrets from her former employer, Sanofi, and selling Sanofi compounds through another company in which she held an interest […]

In Aventis Pharma S.A. v. Hospira Inc., No. 2011-1018 (Federal Circuit April 9, 2012), the court relied on disclosure in a non-patent literature reference in its decision.

The case involved US Patents No. 5,750,561 and 5,714,512 directed to compositions containing taxane derivatives (compounds found in yew trees; cf.). The patents are assigned to Aventis Pharma S.A. Consolidated actions were brought by Aventis Pharma S.A. and Sanofi-Aventis U.S., LLC against Hospira Inc, Apotex Inc., and Apotex Corp. for patent infringement.