Court Sided With Monsanto For A Second Time

Last week the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal seeking to prevent Monsanto from suing farmers who inadvertently grew crops contaminated by its genetically engineered seed.

It was the second time the top U.S. court has sided with Monsanto in battles over seed patent rights, after a ruling in the company’s favor in a May 2013 case involving an Indiana farmer.

In the latest case, the Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association had asked that Monsanto agree not to sue farmers if they inadvertently grew plants containing traits of patented genetically engineered seed.

In rejecting the suit without comment, the Supreme Court let stand a federal appeals court ruling that the group’s challenge was unwarranted because Monsanto had already given binding assurances it would not sue when only trace amounts of its genetically modified seed were involved.