Two major players in the precision planting business are battling in court.
Kinze Manufacturing has asked a federal judge to stop John Deere from trying to access internal documents about Kinze’s planting equipment business.
Deere served Kinze a subpoena last month seeking information about Kinze’s marketing strategies and research and development plans. Deere’s request was related to the ongoing antitrust lawsuit over Deere’s attempt to purchase Precision Planting, a Monsanto subsidiary that manufactures precision planting equipment. Deere wants the information to defend itself against claims that the acquisition of Precision Planting would squeeze competitors out of the market.
Kinze, which is not directly involved in the antitrust lawsuit, argues that turning over those documents would divulge tightly held business secrets and hurt its ability to compete with Deere.
Source: brownfieldagnews.com