Patent protection: What Monsanto can learn from Tesla's instance

Monsanto not only needs to let go of its patents, but also move away from GM products to more sustainable technologies

The American multinational corporation (MNC) Tesla might be going through its own share of problems related to production glitches in its cars, but it can sure teach a thing or two to another US-registered MNC – Monsanto — on handling patents. Ever since the Indian judiciary has disallowed Monsanto’s patent on its proprietary seed technology, the seed MNCs in the country have been upping the rhetoric for patents, claiming that sans patent protection, no (agricultural) innovation can take place in India. But this argument doesn’t hold good for several reasons.

The Issue

In India, Monsanto, through Mahyco Monsanto Biotech (MMB), a 50:50