5 Refiners Ask Supreme Court to Review Ruling

Exxon Mobil Corp. and four other oil refiners asked the Supreme Court to review a lower court ruling that upheld a Unocal Corp. gasoline patent and cost the refiners $91 million for infringement, Exxon Mobil said. Exxon Mobil said the Supreme Court will decide later this year whether to hear the petition. Royal Dutch/Shell Group, BP Amoco, Chevron Corp. and Texaco Inc. joined in the appeal. Irving, Texas-based Exxon Mobil said Unocal misused the patent system and said refiners shouldn’t be penalized for making cleaner-burning gasoline mandated by law. Unocal, based in El Segundo, wasn’t immediately available to comment. It has said that at least 65 other gasoline patents were awarded, and courts have validated Unocal’s claim. Exxon Mobil shares fell $1.25 to close at $81.31, while Unocal fell 81 cents to close at $33.06, both on the New York Stock Exchange.