“...Monsanto got a few farmers on the program, then threaten to sue the others. The crops cross pollinated with the GMO seed.”
Yeah but I see that as an issue with the stupidity of letting people copyright genetic sequences. Should the first guy who crossbred citrus plants and created the mutant lemon have been able to charge everyone who subsequently planted a lemon tree a fee? You can own a lemon tree, but you can’t own the idea of “lemon”. Once it’s out there in the world, it’s out.
Plant patents are good for 20 years regardless of the method of development.
All the GMO from 1980-2000 are now public domain. Yet people are still repeating the enviro whacko conspiracy nonsense from 40 years ago.