Bayer AG’s Monsanto unit won a legal battle to own patents on genetically-modified cotton seeds in India, the world’s biggest producer of the fiber, in a rare piece of good news for the German company.
India’s Supreme Court ruled on [January 8] that the company’s patent for Bt cotton seeds is valid, overturning a judgment by the High Court of Delhi that said certain items such as seeds, plants and animals can’t be patented. A two-judge bench, headed by Justice Rohinton F. Nariman, referred the matter to the lower court saying that all aspects related to Monsanto’s patents on genetically-modified seeds can be considered by the Delhi court.
The ruling is a boost for Monsanto, which faced the risk of losing revenues without a claim over exclusive rights in India, as the company faces legal challenges in the U.S. over allegations that its Roundup weed killer can cause cancer….
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The ruling may prompt some biotech companies to revive expansion plans that were placed on hold amid restrictions imposed by the government and local courts in recent years. The high court’s ruling “essentially means that the patent is in force,” said a spokesman for Bayer in India.
Read full, original article: Bayer Gets Rare Monsanto Reprieve With Cotton Seed Ruling
