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nafex - Re: [NAFEX] Moral and Legal Patent Quandries

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  • From: "Mike Levine" <mlevine@umich.edu>
  • To: <breen@fedcoseeds.com>, "North American Fruit Explorers" <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Moral and Legal Patent Quandries
  • Date: Wed, 15 Feb 2006 13:38:54 -0500

I have some questions about moral and legal patent issues also. If a gene is inserted into a plant and patented, but the plant is one that can easily spread across property lines or can spread it's pollen across property lines, is the progeny of that plant protected by patent law?

If I genetically modify and patent a strawberry and it spreads to your property, are you violating my patent rights? What if you plant seed from that strawberry on your property and it contains my patented gene, are you violating my rights? What if an animal vector plants it?

What if my plant becomes a serious nuisance weed on your farm, resulting in lower crop yields and increased labor or other costs? Can you sue me?

What about if my genetic experiment crosses with seed you've been saving for your breeding project and now you can't use the stock from your breeding project because I own a patent on a gene that contaminated your stock?

What about if my genetic experiment crosses with seed you use on your organic farm without your permission? Can you still sell the produce as organic? Can you sue me?


Mike Levine
Ann Arbor, MI zone 5b




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