Global: Lawsuit seeks to invalidate Monsanto’s GMO patents

A landmark lawsuit filed on 29 March in US federal court seeks to invalidate Monsanto’s patents on genetically modified seeds and to prohibit the company from suing those whose crops become genetically contaminated. The Public Patent Foundation filed suit on behalf of 270,000 people from 60 organic and sustainable businesses and trade associations, including thousands of certified-organic farmers, arguing the invalidity of any patent that poisons people and the environment, and that is not useful to society, two hallmarks of US patent law.