A number of commercially farmed crops are grown using genetically modified seeds. The farmers license the seeds from the company that holds the patents to the v

A number of commercially farmed crops are grown using genetically modified seeds. The farmers license the seeds from the company that holds the patents to the various gene modifications (principally Monsanto.) These licenses tend to obligate the farmer to not use the seeds produced by their crops, but rather to buy a whole new bag of seeds each year. I doubt they'd go after a private gardener, but they could. Further reading: http://www.monsanto.com/newsviews/Pages/Why-Does-Monsanto-Patent-Seeds.aspx http://www.monsanto.com/newsviews/Pages/Why-Does-Monsanto-Pa... >"The first time growers purchase Monsanto seed, they sign a stewardship agreement and contract agreeing not to save and replant seeds produced from the crops they grow from Monsanto seed." --- Even further reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsanto#Legal_actions_and_controversies https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsanto#Legal_actions_and_con... http://rense.com/general38/saver.htm http://rense.com/general38/saver.htm http://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2013/02/scotus-hears-monsanto-soybean-case http://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2013/02/scotus-hears-...