2 ms·
Monsanto already has a great incentive to make things "roundup ready" - they can sell more roundup as a result. They've done something of debatable patentabilit
by tsewlliw 14y ago
Monsanto already has a great incentive to make things "roundup ready" - they can sell more roundup as a result. They've done something of debatable patentability that drastically increases the value of their existing assets. If you want to milk it for more, raise the price of roundup, which as a fancy chemical cocktail that isn't self reproducing, is much more viable for patent and trade secret protections.
- cbr 14y agoRoundup is out of patent.
- tsewlliw 14y agoSucks for them, innovation doesn't always come at the right time for a big payday. But their payday can still be fantastic without (to my mind at least) ignoring what kind of activities patents are supposed to protect. RR crops still boost demand for roundup and clones, competing on brand is a valid and proven strategy, and you can still sell RR(tm) branded seeds that you guarantee are roundup ready at perhaps a lower markup. And you can target your next herbicide immune crop at a patent protected herbicide.
- bediger4000 14y agoYou mean that Roundup(TM) brand broad-spectrum systemic herbicide is still copyrighted. The chemical glyphosate is no longer under patent protection. Let's keep our facts straight, and respect other's intellectual property, folks. It's dangerous out there.
- ars 14y agoThe roundup ready soybean is also just about out of patent. (I think it has another 6 months or so.) They of course made a version 2 (and don't sell version 1 anymore, so it's hard to get). But doubt the version 2 is all that much better.