Long-running litigation between Impossible Foods and Motif FoodWorks over inclusion of heme protein in plant-based meat substitutes has been resolved. Impossible Foods includes soy leghemoglobin produced by a genetically engineered strain of yeast to simulate the color of their product. Motif uses a yeast-derived version of myoglobin in their product apparently representing an infringement of patents held by Impossible Foods.
Under the agreement, Impossible Foods will assume the heme-related activities conducted by Motif FoodWorks and the case will be dismissed with each party responsible for their respective legal fees and expenses.
The settlement agreement recognizes that the parties will continue advancing plant-based meat alternatives through innovation, collaboration and fair competition.
The U.S. Patent Appeal Board recently invalidated one patent awarded to Impossible Foods but sustained six other patents that were pivotal to litigation.