Family Farmers Mobilize in Ongoing Battle Against Monsanto [View all]

[JReed]

Family Farmers Mobilize in Ongoing Battle Against Monsanto

Group heads to federal appeals court to be free from "legal threats and intimidation" from genetically modified giant
- Andrea Germanos, staff writer

A group of family farmers is headed to a federal appeals court on Thursday in their ongoing battle against genetically modified seed giant Monsanto.

The group's suit, first filed by lead plaintiff Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association (OSGATA) in March 2011, argues (.pdf) that farmers who want nothing to do with genetically modified (transgenic) seed could have their crops unwillingly contaminated by it and "could quite perversely also be accused of patent infringement by the company responsible for the transgenic seed that contaminates them."

The was dismissed in February 2012 by Federal Judge Naomi Buchwald, but attorney Dan Ravicher of the not-for-profit Public Patent Foundation said, "The District Court erred when it denied the organic seed plaintiffs the right to seek protection from Monsanto's patents."

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http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/01/08-11