3 ms·
> What leverage would they have if one or two foreign companies controlled a large majority of their seed stock? India has in the past allowed infringement of
by jcampbell1 15y ago
> What leverage would they have if one or two foreign companies controlled a large majority of their seed stock?
India has in the past allowed infringement of patented HIV drugs. Why wouldn't India allow infringement of seed company patents in a crisis? The whole thing falls down as soon as farmers are told it is okay to break the "pledge".
- Roboprog 15y agoMonsanto is large. They (like many other Fortune 500) can use the US Government to exert much pressure on India to pay the IP tribute for using forbidden seeds as well as accidentally cross-pollenated varieties (assuming they are viable). (why maintain a crypto-fascist empire if you're not going to use it?) OTOH, India isn't Iraq (et al): they might respond with a big, nuclear-backed, "F* YOU!", and get away by infringing like you said. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Owing your seeds to a company is a bad thing, though.