-=> On 09-08-97  13:52, George Lagergren typed to Ty Meissner <=-
-=> Re: Re: pvt patent on public  <=-
 Hi George,
	   -------------------     snip !   8<  ---------------------
 GL> Ty  -->  Do you really mean that the seed companies that have
 GL> developed a "lab-made" seed can force farmers who use their
 GL> "nature's made" [because chemically it is the same seed]
 GL> seed [not even purchased from the "lab made" seed company],
 GL> will have to pay royalities.
      Yes, that's precisely what I mean.   The WIPO treaty as proposed by
      those representing corporate interests would allow private
      corporations to patent any genetic material that currently exists in
      common ownership, i.e. any genetic material that is not already
      covered under a patent.  I know it sounds preposterous but I kid you
      not.   That's why countries like India strongly oppose the treaty.
      In fact its only the US and European nations that are pushing for
      this treaty.   The WTO and its GATT, WIPO, MAI multinational treaties
      eseriously curtails the sovereignty of its members and imposes
      undemocratic governance by a secret tribunal serving global
      corporations and banks.   This institution has already been used to
      overturn some US consumer and environmental protection laws.
 GL> And will this not create conflict between the "nature's made"
 GL> seed companies and "lab made" seed companies   OR  will the
 GL> "lab made" seed companies crush the nature seed companies
 GL> thru the means of an INTERNATIONAL  TREATY???
 GL>
      Companies that fail to pay license fees will be forced out of
      business.
      Call your Representative and Senators TOLL FREE: 1-888-723-5246
      Tell them NOT to grant fast track (debate limiting) authority
      for the MAI and NAFTA expansion.
      Regards,
      Ty
   |\ zz   _,,,--,,_  ,) Ty Meissner, Psych Tech E-mail: 
y.meissner@grape.net
  /,`.-'`'   -,  ;-;;'  "I'm for truth, no matter who tells it.  I'm for
 {,4-  ) )-,_ ) /\     justice no matter who it's for or against.  I'm a 
uman
 <---''(_/--' (_/-     being first and foremost and I am for whoever and 
      .         .      whatever benefots humanity as a whole."  --  Malcolm X
... As easy as 3.14159265358979323846264338327...
___ Blue Wave/386 v2.30 [NR]
--- QScan/PCB v1.16b / 01-0507
---------------