DuPont Challenges Invista's Trade Secrets Lawsuit

Wilmington, DE, Aug. 19, 2008--E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co. challenged a trade secrets lawsuit filed by Koch Industries Inc.'s Invista unit against DuPont and France's Rhodia SA (RHA.FR) last week.

The company said there are no facts to support the claim.

In a statement, DuPont said it will "vigorously defend" itself against the action, which claims DuPont and Rhodia have teamed up to steal Invista's proprietary technology for the production of a chemical used in the manufacture of nylon.

"As a science company, DuPont takes great care to protect its intellectual property, and to respect the intellectual property rights of others," the company said.

Last week, Invista sued DuPont and Rhodia in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, contending that Rhodia is attempting to improperly obtain trade secrets related to its proprietary, butadinene-based technology to produce adiponitrile, an intermediate chemical used in the manufacture of nylon.

Invista claims it bought the core technology as part of $4.1 billion sale of DuPont's fibers business in 2004.

The lawsuit claims DuPont agreed to prohibitions that barred it from competing against Invista and from disclosing the technology and any third party as part of the transaction. The lawsuit alleges DuPont has joined forces with Rhodia as Rhodia seeks to build an adiponitrile plant in Asia and compete unfairly against Invista.