Ian
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-lbo-talk at lists.panix.com
> [mailto:owner-lbo-talk at lists.panix.com]On Behalf Of Joe Kaplinsky
> Sent: Tuesday, July 13, 1999 11:49 AM
> To: lbo-talk at lists.panix.com
> Subject: Re: Monsanto: Ready to use "tough tactics" against farmers
>
>
>
> >
> >From today's Financial Times:
> >
> >The Seeds of Dispute
> >
> >By Scott Morrison
> >
>
> >In a landmark case, due to be heard by a Canadian judge next month,
> >Monsanto is taking a 68-year-old farmer to court after he was discovered
> >to be growing a variety of Monsanto's genetically modified canola
> >(rapeseed) without its consent.
> >
>
> etc
>
> I saw a long TV report about this case.
>
> >From a strictly legal point of view it seems to me that Monsanto need to
> look after their property more carefully rather than let it blow
> around in
> the wind.
>
> Protecting intellectual property in agricultural products is not a new
> problem. In the '30s armed guards were posted round fields where
> new strains
> were being developed (I don't have the reference right to hand, but I can
> get it).
>
> New technology like GM food and IT seems to pose a problem for capitalist
> social relations, hence the slogan "information wants to be
> free". But all
> this reflects is a timie lag between the introduction of a technology and
> development of a legal framework which adequately expresses the
> new social
> relations.
>
> It shows one sense in which development of the means of production comes
> into conflict with prevailing social relations. But in this case it seems
> Monsanto will protect their property rights.
>
> In contrast might I suggest the slogan "Free the Weed!"
>
> Joe.
>
>
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