Case Sows Doubt for Seed Patents

As farmers prepare for the next growing season, seed producers may wish to revisit license agreements in the wake of a recent Supreme Court decision.

In Quanta Computer Inc. vs. LG Electronics, the Supreme Court addressed the century-old patent doctrine of exhaustion and the ability to enforce post-sale restrictions under the patent laws. Although the case concerns computer technology, the decision has implications for protecting self-replicating products in life sciences, including patent-protected seeds. Read more…