Deere Loses Trial to AGCO on Precision-Farming Tech Patents (2)

AGCO Corp. and its Precision Planting LLC unit escaped allegations by Deere & Co., the world’s biggest tractor maker, that their seed meters and seed-delivery system infringe two patents related to high-speed, accurate seed placement and spacing, a Delaware federal jury ruled.

Jurors rejected Deere’s arguments that Precision’s SpeedTube and vSet2 products, and new AGCO planters that contain them, infringe either of two Deere patents, according to the jury’s verdict July 8 in the US District Court for the District of Delaware.

“The court’s decision affirms Precision Planting’s pre-eminent position in precision agriculture and technology, and ensures farmers will ...