Martek Biosciences Corporation announced that it has filed a patent infringement suit in Germany against Nutrinova Nutrition Specialties & Food Ingredients GmbH and Celanese Ventures GmbH for patent infringement arising from Nutrinova's manufacture, sale and use of a fatty acid product marketed by Nutrinova under the brand name DHActive for use in functional foods and dietary supplements. Martek has previously disclosed that it filed a similar suit in the US in September of 2003.

Martek specializes in the development and sale of nutritional fatty acids, including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid. Numerous United States, European and Asian patents relating to Martek's DHA technology have been issued to Martek, including those that it has asserted have been infringed by Nutrinova.

Martek is marketing its DHA products world-wide for inclusion as an ingredient in foods and beverages. Martek also sells its DHA oil as a nutritional supplement throughout the United States under the brand name Neuromins DHA and in Europe under the brand name DHA Gold.