The supreme court is reviewing a important case regarding Monsanto seed patents.
The U.S. Supreme Court agreed on Friday to consider an Indiana soybean farmer's appeal of a decision finding that he infringed Monsanto Co patents over seeds containing the company's genetically altered Roundup Ready technology.
The legal issues stem from Monsanto’s efforts to ensure that farmers have to buy the genetically modified seeds every year, rather than planting part of the harvest from the previous season. Farmers who buy seeds from an authorized dealer must agree that they won’t use any harvested seeds for planting.
The oral arguments start in 2013.
The Supreme Court took up the case against the advice of the Obama administration, which said the Federal Circuit reached the right conclusion in the case.
Monsanto, Dow, Vivendi, Dotcom: Intellectual Property
Update with more info :
More info from the reuters artcile:
In the Monsanto case, Vernon Bowman, who is in his mid-70s, was appealing a September 2011 decision by the U.S. Federal Circuit Court of Appeals upholding an $84,456 damages award for Monsanto.
Please note the part about
Obama administration siding with monsanto. :(
The farmer lost the original case, and the supreme court has taken the case despite Obama administration's advice.