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Published online 4 May 2007 | Nature | doi:10.1038/news070430-14
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GM patent rejected after 13 years
Patent for technology to fire genes into soy seeds thrown out.
The European Patent Office (EPO) has revoked a patent owned by global agricultural giant Monsanto for the genetic modification (GM) of soybeans, saying the technique it approved 13 years ago lacked "novelty".
The technique, which describes a way of creating any kind of GM soybean without reference to the specific genes being introduced, has helped make Monsanto the dominant force in GM soybeans — the company owns nearly 90% of the global market.
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