TECHNOLOGY LICENSES: THAT WHICH IS CEASAR’S Agnet Sept 21, Sept. 21/98Agriweek

Monsanto Canada is, according to this story, taking a Saskatchewan farmer to court alleging a violation of the ‘technology use’ agreement under which it sells CANOLA seed bred to resist the action of its non-selective Roundup herbicide. Under the agreement the grower agrees to pay a per-acre fee to the company and to buy new seed each year. The court action alleges that the producer in question paid the fee once but saved seed for planting in two following seasons.The story adds that the seed is not a hybrid and successive generations are viable. A number of other instances have been settled without going to court, but it is just a matter of time before a lawsuit goes all the way.A risk for Monsanto is a possible court decision in favor of a producer: which could nullify all such agreements and force the company to go the more conventional route.