The US Supreme Court has ruled in favour of Monsanto, allowing the agricultural giant to relentlessly pursue and sue farmers whose fields are inadvertently contaminated with Monsanto’s GM seeds.
The ruling left in tact a federal appeals court decision to throw out a 2011 lawsuit from the Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association that sought to prevent Monsanto from claiming patents on genetically-modified seeds.
The suit would have prevented Monsanto from destroying the lives of thousands of farmers.
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RT.com reports:
The group of plaintiffs, which included many individual American and Canadian family farmers, independent seed companies and agricultural organizations, were seeking preemptive protections against Monsanto’s patents. The biotech leviathan has filed over 140 lawsuits against farmers for planting the company’s genetically-engineered seeds without permission, while settling around 700 other cases without suing.
None of the plaintiffs are customers of Monsanto and none have licensing agreements with the company. The group argued that they do not want Monsanto’s genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) and want legal protection in case of inadvertent contact with the company’s products.
The appeals court decision was based on Monsanto’s supposed promise not to sue farmers whose crops – including corn, soybeans, cotton, canola and others – contained traces of the company’s biotechnology products.
In a June 2013 ruling, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, DC said it was inevitable, as the farmers’ argued, that contamination from Monsanto’s products would occur. Yet the appeals panel also said the plaintiffs do not have standing to prohibit Monsanto from suing them should the company’s genetic traits end up on their holdings”because Monsanto has made binding assurances that it will not ‘take legal action against growers whose crops might inadvertently contain traces of Monsanto biotech genes (because, for example, some transgenic seed or pollen blew onto the grower’s land).'”
The panel’s reference to “traces” of Monsanto’s patented genes means farms that are affected by less than 1 percent.
The plaintiffs asked Monsanto to pledge not to sue, but the company rebuffed the request, saying, “A blanket covenant not to sue any present or future member of petitioners’ organizations would enable virtually anyone to commit intentional infringement.”
Monsanto’s GMO seeds are designed to withstand the company’s own ubiquitous herbicide, Roundup. Recently, questions have begun to arise from the bioengineered seed’s resistance to pestilence, which has caused some farmers to increase their use of traditional pesticides.
“Monsanto never has and has committed it never will sue if our patented seed or traits are found in a farmer’s field as a result of inadvertent means,” said Kyle McClain, the Monsanto’s chief litigation counsel, according to Reuters.
“The lower courts agreed there was no controversy between the parties,” McClain added, “and the Supreme Court’s decision not to review the case brings closure on this matter.”
Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association President Jim Gerritsen expressed disappointment that the Supreme Court reaffirmed the previous ruling, refusing to hear the case.
“The Supreme Court failed to grasp the extreme predicament family farmers find themselves in,” said Gerritsen, an organic seed farmer in Maine. “The Court of Appeals agreed our case had merit. However … safeguards they ordered are insufficient to protect our farms and our families.”
In addition to Monday’s news and the appeals court decision against them, the plaintiffs – many of them non-GMO farmers and who make up over 25 percent of North America’s certified organic farmers – also lost a district court case.
“If Monsanto can patent seeds for financial gain, they should be forced to pay for contaminating a farmer’s field, not be allowed to sue them,” said Dave Murphy, founder and executive director of Food Democracy Now!, in a statement “Once again, America’s farmers have been denied justice, while Monsanto’s reign of intimidation is allowed to continue in rural America.”
“Monsanto has effectively gotten away with stealing the world’s seed heritage and abusing farmers for the flawed nature of their patented seed technology,” said Murphy. “This is an outrage of historic proportions and will not stand.”
The case is Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association, et al., v. Monsanto Company, et al. Supreme Court Case No. 13-303.
Sean Adl-Tabatabai
Revolting in the extreme. Eventually, this tyranny will cause a revolution.
People get dangerous when they have nothing left to lose. The Elites should be nervous.
John Little
omegashock dot com
“People get dangerous when they have nothing left to lose. The Elites should be nervous.”
Yup and people are right on that edge now !
Revolting in the extreme. Eventually, this tyranny will cause a revolution.
People get dangerous when they have nothing left to lose. The Elites should be nervous.
John Little
omegashock dot com
“People get dangerous when they have nothing left to lose. The Elites should be nervous.”
Yup and people are right on that edge now !
Wonder if these farmers ever sued Monsanto for contaminating their all natural crops and therefore their livelihoods.
These haven’t been there yet, but people have tried. Thus the suits and dropped by settlement suits mentioned.
Wonder if these farmers ever sued Monsanto for contaminating their all natural crops and therefore their livelihoods.
These haven’t been there yet, but people have tried. Thus the suits and dropped by settlement suits mentioned.
This is why you spell it “Supreme Court MORON-jority
This is why you spell it “Supreme Court MORON-jority
ONCE AGAIN the bought and paid for CONservative Corporate owned SCoTUS has trampled on American values in order to cater to the Corporations who can ride roughshod over the entire planet!!!!
How dumb are you? Ruling otherwise would mean that nobody could sue for patent violations. Also, this happened 2 years ago.
Once again a stupid liberal spouts the information she has been told without a single fact to back it up. Who are the super delegates for the Democratic party? Many of them are Lobbyists!!! Who has taken millions of dollars from the Wall Street brokers and bankers? Hint it isn’t the Republican running for president. We haven’t had representative government in over twenty years. Documented by Princeton University report. If you are seriously so deluded into thinking a single politician gives a rats ass about the people he represents I feel sorry for you. Corruption is legal in DC. Until that changes members of both parties will continue to engage in it. Just so you’re aware, big money donors prefer Democrats. International monopoly capitalism and international revolutionary socialism work hand in hand and always will.
ONCE AGAIN the bought and paid for CONservative Corporate owned SCoTUS has trampled on American values in order to cater to the Corporations who can ride roughshod over the entire planet!!!!
How dumb are you? Ruling otherwise would mean that nobody could sue for patent violations. Also, this happened 2 years ago.
Once again a stupid liberal spouts the information she has been told without a single fact to back it up. Who are the super delegates for the Democratic party? Many of them are Lobbyists!!! Who has taken millions of dollars from the Wall Street brokers and bankers? Hint it isn’t the Republican running for president. We haven’t had representative government in over twenty years. Documented by Princeton University report. If you are seriously so deluded into thinking a single politician gives a rats ass about the people he represents I feel sorry for you. Corruption is legal in DC. Until that changes members of both parties will continue to engage in it. Just so you’re aware, big money donors prefer Democrats. International monopoly capitalism and international revolutionary socialism work hand in hand and always will.
For a supposedly serious news blog your grammar and spelling is a bloody joke. I wont be reading you again.
For a supposedly serious news blog your grammar and spelling is a bloody joke. I wont be reading you again.
I have absolutely no faith in the intelligence, integrity, or patriotism in the “leadership” in Washington.
I have absolutely no faith in the intelligence, integrity, or patriotism in the “leadership” in Washington.
This ruling happened in January 2014. I remember reading articles about it from the time. And sure enough, if you look up the cited Supreme Court case number, this article is describing exactly the January 2014 ruling.
So why is this article being published in May 2016? This is a transparent and pathetic attempt to rile people up over an old ruling by pretending that it’s news.
I did not know this and think its important info anyway.
So thanks to the poster.
German company Bayer are bidding to take over Monsanto. Perhaps why it’s posted again now.
This ruling happened in January 2014. I remember reading articles about it from the time. And sure enough, if you look up the cited Supreme Court case number, this article is describing exactly the January 2014 ruling.
So why is this article being published in May 2016? This is a transparent and pathetic attempt to rile people up over an old ruling by pretending that it’s news.
I did not know this and think its important info anyway.
So thanks to the poster.
German company Bayer are bidding to take over Monsanto. Perhaps why it’s posted again now.
Burn all monsatan crops,set the fields on fire
Burn all monsatan crops,set the fields on fire
“The US Supreme Court has ruled in favour of Monsanto, allowing the agricultural giant to relentlessly pursue and sue farmers whose fields are inadvertently contaminated with Monsanto’s GM seeds. ”
…
“Monsanto has made binding assurances that it will not ‘take legal action against growers whose crops might inadvertently contain traces of Monsanto biotech genes (because, for example, some transgenic seed or pollen blew onto the grower’s land).”
…
“Monsanto never has and has committed it never will sue if our patented seed or traits are found in a farmer’s field as a result of inadvertent means,” said Kyle McClain, the Monsanto’s chief litigation counsel, according to Reuters.
So, not an issue at all, then?
“The US Supreme Court has ruled in favour of Monsanto, allowing the agricultural giant to relentlessly pursue and sue farmers whose fields are inadvertently contaminated with Monsanto’s GM seeds. ”
…
“Monsanto has made binding assurances that it will not ‘take legal action against growers whose crops might inadvertently contain traces of Monsanto biotech genes (because, for example, some transgenic seed or pollen blew onto the grower’s land).”
…
“Monsanto never has and has committed it never will sue if our patented seed or traits are found in a farmer’s field as a result of inadvertent means,” said Kyle McClain, the Monsanto’s chief litigation counsel, according to Reuters.
So, not an issue at all, then?
Isn’t it great now our courts are being bought by big industry !
Isn’t it great now our courts are being bought by big industry !
It seems anyone can be bought now !
It seems anyone can be bought now !
I can just see Bill Gates dancing and celebrating.
I can just see Bill Gates dancing and celebrating.
This ruling only denies special preemptive protection against Monsanto. Monsanto, as a private company retains its right to sue farmers–that does not mean that they will sue and win suits against any farmer with inadvertent contamination. The farmer has to knowingly exploit the contaminated seed by spraying it with Roundup–treating it like a GM seed and benefitting from it through reduced weed control labor and expense. If the farmer treats it like a conventional crop, then the inadvertent contamination provides no benefit.
This ruling only denies special preemptive protection against Monsanto. Monsanto, as a private company retains its right to sue farmers–that does not mean that they will sue and win suits against any farmer with inadvertent contamination. The farmer has to knowingly exploit the contaminated seed by spraying it with Roundup–treating it like a GM seed and benefitting from it through reduced weed control labor and expense. If the farmer treats it like a conventional crop, then the inadvertent contamination provides no benefit.
The People need to create their own Judiciary/new system … we’re not obligated to tolerate Corruption and arseholes like this guys!! Start using your initiative and your Sovereign Self-Determination – CHANGE THE WORLD ffs!
Be Sovereign – determine to create something positive, nurturing and beautiful for yourself, for The People, for our planet – THIS IS WHAT WE ALL DESERVE – NOT THIS CORRUPTION / WAR / ENSLAVEMENT SHIT! Stop consenting to this rubbish!!!
Create, preserve and defend Humanity and Life on Earth – GET SOME BACKBONE, and stand up for what it RIGHT – it’s that simple. Choose what is important to you and the world at large, and take whatever action is necessary to preserve and protect it – shut down global Corporate/Govt corruption!
Create a Sovereign Council of The Peoples’ Representatives, and advise the Members of Congress that their Satanist shit and corruption is unacceptable – that anyone deemed by the council to be acting or conducting themselves in bias favour of corrupt/corporate interests at the expense of Collective Humanity, will be taken into custody by The Peoples’ representatives, and tried for Corruption Against the People. Harden up Humanity – there is a time for empathy and compassion, most definitely – but what is needed today are “don’t fck with Humanity and our planet” Warriors. These clowns are poisoning/polluting and destroying our planet – undermining Mother Nature and Natural Law; intent on pillaging and taking our planet’s resources; killing the Earth’s wildlife and depopulating Humanity!
WIPE THE SLEEP OUT OF YOUR EYES AND SHAKE OFF THE APATHY AND DENIAL, FFS … Look around – YOU KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON. LOOK!!
Our planet, life on our planet and Humanity are under assault. It’s not a fckn game – it’s happening, so start paying attention and reading between the lines. Disregard controlled mainstream media. You should be beginning to see by now that you’re only being told what Corruption wants you to know via corrupted/controlled media. Start taking responsibility for what’s going on around the planet – false flags, war, Sovereign nations being invaded and slaughtered, our planet being pillaged, plundered and polluted by Corporate/Satanist Corruption…
Humanity are supposed to be stewards and protectors of life on Earth, but we’ve consented to Corruption invading our Sovereign “space” – our minds, our Consciousness. They’re taking control! WAKE UP, SEE IT AND START DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
The court cannot make laws only congress so who really has the power ?
The court cannot make laws only congress so who really has the power ?
We need to burn Monsatan down to the ground, off with the heads of upper management and the board of directors, and put them on pikes surrounding company HQ. Only then will they get a clue.
We need to burn Monsatan down to the ground, off with the heads of upper management and the board of directors, and put them on pikes surrounding company HQ. Only then will they get a clue.
Clarence Thomas is a former corporate atty for Monsanto, hmmmm
Clarence Thomas is a former corporate atty for Monsanto, hmmmm
Have a good look at Bayer, if they are trying to take over Monsanto, they are a scourge to this planet check out their war credits!!!!
Have a good look at Bayer, if they are trying to take over Monsanto, they are a scourge to this planet check out their war credits!!!!
http://ahrp.org/auschwitz60-year-anniversary-the-role-of-ig-farben-bayer/ lets say very interesting reading for those that have not seen this.
http://ahrp.org/auschwitz60-year-anniversary-the-role-of-ig-farben-bayer/ lets say very interesting reading for those that have not seen this.
Big corporations declared war against us long ago.
Too many haven’t figured it out yet.
~
Big corporations declared war against us long ago.
Too many haven’t figured it out yet.
~
God will destroy monsanto and it’s supporters, it’s just a matter of time !
The Supreme Court ruled that Monsanto is the government’s biotechnology chemical warfare contractor who is acting to experiment on its citizens.
This is so wrong. Revolutions have started for less. Monsanto you suck!
DEATH TO TYRANTS!