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Monsanto said:Add a new word to your lexicon: Biopiracy.
That’s what U.S.-based agribusiness giant Monsanto has been accused of in India, where the government is planning to charge the company with violating the country’s biodiversity laws over a genetically modified version of eggplant.
In doing so, India has placed itself at the focal point of the movement to challenge genetically modified crops, which opponents say are destroying traditional crops and threatening farmers’ livelihoods.
...
India announced last month it is pursuing charges against Monsanto for "stealing" an indigenous crop -- eggplant -- and using it to create a modified version without permission, a violation of India’s decade-old Biological Diversity Act. It’s the first prosecution of a company for the act of "biopiracy" in the country, and possibly the world.
At the heart of the issue is the phenomenon of the commercialization of indigenous knowledge. Indian farmers argue that they developed the strains of eggplant grown in India over generations, and Monsanto has no right to come in and build a product out of their own indigenous species.
Monsanto took locally-grown eggplant “without any conformance with the biological diversity act, and therefore it is biopiracy,” said Leo Saldanha, director of the Environmental Support Group, an Indian NGO. Saldanha filed the initial complaint that prompted India to pursue charges.
[Mods: Actual article title too big to fit in title field]
Monsanto, World's Largest Genetically Modified Food Producer, To Be Charged With Biopiracy In India (VIDEO)
Amazing! It's nice to see Monsanto finally taken to task by a major government for its unethical business practices. Now if only the U.S. government had the balls to do the same, our farmers might not be under so much attack from this corporation.
While I'm not opposed to genetically engineered crops or Frankenfoods, nontheless it would amuse me greatly to see the mighty and arrogant Monsanto taken down a notch. They are pushy bastards.
Do intellectual property rights cover plant species? Or animal, for that matter? If I breed a new dog, can I prevent others from doing so, and hurting my business? Can I purchase the rights to a breed?
I hope Monsanto gets a gzillion dollar judgment against it given all the lawsuits they threaten and file.
Nor do I believe nature can be patented. If you create a new species or variety, once it is in nature it is. This would particularly true if sold to be put into nature, which is what Monsanto does.
I'm glad to hear. Do you agree I should be allowed to steal the new iPhone when it comes out for sale without legal repercussion? After all, Apple didn't invent the phone. It didn't invent talking. It didn't even invent the air that microwaves travel through. So why shouldn't I be allowed to steal the iPhone? Cause of branding? Pish-posh.
I'm glad to hear. Do you agree I should be allowed to steal the new iPhone when it comes out for sale without legal repercussion? After all, Apple didn't invent the phone. It didn't invent talking. It didn't even invent the air that microwaves travel through. So why shouldn't I be allowed to steal the iPhone? Cause of branding? Pish-posh.
PLEASE STOP hijacking this thread with your irrelevant comparison to digital copyrights!! This is not the place for it!! Thank you.
Answer to the question is yes
Both Plants and animals can be patented and have been
This from the people complaining about megaupload being taken down is rich.
Wow India makes moronic laws.
Posted from my phone
Really why
Indian farmers have taken decades to develop the particular traits in some of their crops, why should Monsanto be able to patent those traits then charge Indian farmers for the ability to use them?
I don't think anyone should be able to prevent the use of any plant or animal, simply because it originated in India or else where.
Biopiracy is moronic.
monsanto and others have been doing worse for years. They frequently patent seeds and foods and sue anyone who tries to use or modify it. How is what India is doing to them any different than what they have done to millions of others
Man I want to be a biopirate.
YARRR! HAND OVER THE GENETIC CODE OR WALK THE PLANK!
Two wrongs don't make a right.
Monsanto shouldn't be allowed to do that either.
That doesn't absolve India of being equally stupid.
Unfortunately, the legal system doesn't think it's stupid, and they have the final say on who can do what. So in order to protect themselves, India must use the very system Monsanto has abused to bankrupt farmers.
Like I said, that doesn't make it ok.
If we are going to follow these retarded laws, who gets prosecuted first for commercializing indigenous knowledge of the wheel?
So much of what we use today, may be indigenous knowledge, that liability could be spread around to nearly everyone.
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