For several years now organic farmers and others have worried that they’d be sued for patent infringement if their crops become contaminated with the company’s biotech crops. Company officials refused to sign a covenant stating it would not sue growers, butpromised on its websiteit would not sue them as long as the mix was minimal and unintentional. The appellate court said the statement is binding.

Since 1997, the company says, it filed suit against 145 American farmers. Not many, in the company’s eyes, considering it sells to more than 250,000 U.S. farmers. Only 11 proceeded to trial, with all cases found in the company’s favor.

Those pursuing court action said the company’s patents were invalid, according to a previous Reuters article by Gillam, and its biotech crops damaging to the environment and to farmers who suffer contamination. Companies that clean and handle seed have also been concerned about the issue.  FG

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—Summarized by FG staff from cited sources