SPRINGDALE, Ark. – Espoo, Finland-based Neste Oil Oyj sued a joint venture that includes Tyson Foods Inc. for patent infringement involving renewable diesel fuels made partly from chicken fat.

Dynamic Fuels LLC, a joint venture between Tyson and Syntroleum Corp. of Tulsa, Okla., is violating a patent that covers Neste’s NExBTL diesel fuel, Neste claims. The patent was issued on May 29 and will expire in 2025, according to Neste. The suit was filed in the US District Court for the District of Delaware.

"Neste Oil is the world's leading producer of premium-quality renewable diesel," said Matti Hautakangas, Neste Oil's general counsel. "Based on our proprietary technology, Neste Oil's NExBTL renewable diesel is the world's best and cleanest diesel fuel today. We have protected this technology, which is very important for the group's business, with a number of patents and are committed to vigorously defending our intellectual property in this and other areas worldwide."

The company said it has invested approximately 1.5 billion euros in renewable diesel production at sites in Singapore, the Netherlands and Finland.

Syntroleum rejected the claim, and said it would defend against the allegations.

“Syntroleum has not infringed any of Neste's alleged patent rights and Syntroleum intends vigorously to defend against the complaint's allegations, and is confident that its position will be vindicated.”