Monsanto soy bean patent case in U.S. Supreme Court today
The case dates back to 2007, when Monsanto sued an Indiana farmer for planting the progeny of the patented beans. Monsanto won in U.S. District Court, and in the U.S. Court of Appeals. But that farmer, 75 year old Vernon Hugh Bowman has appealed to the high court.
Court watchers say this case has implications beyond genetically modified seeds, extending to other new technologies.
Briefs from Monsanto supporters, like the University of Missouri and Microsoft argue that a decision against Monsanto would have a chilling effect on innovation. Bowman's supporters argue that that would extend patent claims to an unreasonable length.
Latest News
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8

HEART REPAIR BREAKTHROUGHS REPLACE SURGEON'S KNIFE
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Have a heart problem? If it's fixable, there's a good chance it can be done without surgery, using tiny tools and devices that are pushed through tubes into b...

CRITICS SEEK TO DELAY NYC SUGARY DRINKS SIZE LIMIT
NEW YORK (AP) -- Opponents are pressing to delay enforcement of the city's novel plan to crack down on supersized, sugary drinks, saying businesses shouldn't have to spend millions...

OFFICIALS ALARMED BY INCREASING SUPERBUG REPORTS
NEW YORK (AP) -- Health officials are reporting an alarming increase in some dangerous superbugs at U.S. hospitals. These superbugs from a common germ family have become extreme...

LEAVING HOSPITAL? HEED CARE TIPS OR YOU MAY RETURN
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Michael Lee knew he was still in bad shape when he left the hospital five days after emergency heart surgery. But he was so eager to escape the constant prodding...

OBAMA HEALTH LAW ANNIVERSARY FINDS 2 AMERICAS
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Three years, two elections, and one Supreme Court decision after President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act, its promise of health care for the uninsu...

OBAMA PROPOSES $100M FOR BRAIN MAPPING PROJECT
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama on Tuesday asked Congress to spend $100 million next year on a new project to map the human brain in hopes of eventually finding cures for...

COURT: CAN HUMAN GENES BE PATENTED?
WASHINGTON (AP) -- DNA may be the building block of life, but can something taken from it also be the building block of a multimillion-dollar medical monopoly? The Supreme Court...

ANGER, FEAR, TEARS NORMAL RESPONSE TO DISASTERS
BOSTON (AP) -- Kaitlyn Greeley burst into tears when a car backfired the other day. She's afraid to take her usual train to her job at a Boston hospital, walking or taking cabs ins...