Unfortunately, in its campaign to lessen farmers’ reliance on Monsanto seeds, the [Indian] government has chosen to use the bluntest of instruments: bullying and expropriation. . . [I]t’s decided to cap the royalty payments that Indian seed companies pay Monsanto for the use of its technology. . . .
Worse. . . the government declared cotton seeds an “essential commodity.” This brought into force the draconian provisions of a socialist-era price control law. . .
Worst of all, . . . a new licensing framework . . . allows the government to decide at any point that domestic seed companies no longer need to pay the intellectual property owner anything. . . .
None of this is likely to improve the lives of Indian farmers. . . . the seeds they buy aren’t noticeably cheaper. Instead the policy benefits India’s politically powerful domestic seed companies. . . .
The dangers of the government’s strategy are obvious. . . .
. . . . The Indian government appears intent on taking technology from a foreign company and passing it on to domestic firms. . . .
. . . .What’s happened to Monsanto could happen to any foreign company and any innovator. Once that realization sinks in, India will pay the heavier price.
The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and analysis. Read full, original post: India’s Monsanto clash is bad news for innovators
