ENERGY

Unocal Sued by Rival Over Clean-Gas Patent: The dispute moved into federal court in Los Angeles, where six oil companies have sued Los Angeles-based Unocal over its sweeping patent for the gasoline that will be required in California beginning next year. The companies say Unocal’s patent is so broadly drawn that it could force all refiners in the state to pay huge royalties for the cleaner-burning gas formulas that the plaintiffs say should be public domain. By some estimates, the royalties could total a penny a gallon, or $80 million a year. Unocal spokesman Barry Lane declined to comment on the suit.