Impossible Foods which is famous for manufacturing meatless burgers had recently sued its competitor Motif Foodworks. They have made accusations on the startup of not only copying its technology for imitating the taste of real meat but also using it in its food products. Interestingly, Motif is known as a spinoff of biotech company Ginkgo Bioworks (DNA.N).
The lawsuit has been filed in Delaware federal court. The lawsuit filed by Impossible Foods stated that Motif infringe done of patents owned by Impossible Foods by using the protein molecule heme in its plant-based beef. Patents help in the protection of new technology, product, or method of reaching that product in a more efficient manner. Once a patent is granted to anyone, no one can use that method to manufacture that product or use that technology without proper approval from the proprietor.
A Motif spokesperson called the lawsuit of Impossible Foods nothing but a mere baseless attempt initiated by Impossible Foods with the sole aim to stifle competition and the spokesperson further added that Motif would fight the claims till the end. The Motif is based in Boston. Last year, it made an announcement that it had successfully raised $226 million in its second round of investment financing.
Impossible Foods’ lawsuit said, “Heme is a central component of meat's appeal, and Impossible incorporates the protein in its plant-based burger to replicate meat's taste, smell, and overall sensory experience.” The lawsuit further added, “Motif's use of an ingredient it calls Hemami in its imitation burgers infringes an Impossible Foods patent covering a beef replica product that also uses heme.”
Impossible Foods requested the Court to pass directions for the payment of an undisclosed amount of money in damages and further a court order granting an injunction against Motif prohibiting sales of the allegedly infringing burger. An Impossible Foods spokesperson clarified that the company was willing to welcome competition but did not tolerate unfair attempts to undermine its brand or products through voluntary committal of infringement.