If there's a blockbuster pesticide of the past decade, it has to be fipronil for termite control. Therefore, it's of great interest to read the
article today by Dan Moreland of PCT magazine. Moreland does a nice job explaining the legal battlefronts forming over the pending expiration of the fipronil patent.
Fipronil was patented in 1990 by
Rhône-Poulenc, back in the days of 20 year patents (patents since 1995 are 17 years). This sounds like an exceedingly long time, but because of delays between filing a patent and bringing a product to market, and the high cost of product development and lead time necessary to see a product gain acceptance in the marketplace, most manufacturers will tell you that seventeen years flies about as fast as the blink of an accountant's eye.
Needless to say, BASF and Bayer, holders of the fipronil patent, are not excited to see the patent expire this August. Actively waiting in the wings, to see what the courts decide, are two generic pesticide manufacturers, Cheminova A/S and Makhteshim Agan of North America. At stake is the price you will pay for fipronil for termite control over the foreseeable future, as well as the boundaries of intellectual property for commercial pesticides.
I encourage you to keep informed about the battle. It should be interesting.
1 comment:
I cant wait to see what happens becouse we are paying so much for termidor and it doesnt leave as with much profit at the end. But its not just about money what about the fact that its to costly to use for other pests like black ants ect.
bayer and basf have had it too good
for too long and just like biflex in 1995 when it cost $1200 per 20ltr and now you can pay as low as $330per 20ltr this needs to happen and if the courts rule in favour of bayer and basf it would seem thats sameone has got a much heavyer wallet .
Dennis kokontis
PESTFREE : sydney
Australia
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