If a GM crop cross-pollinates with a neighbouring non-GM crop and the owner of the neighbouring non-GM crop goes on to sell seeds from his now GM-contaminated crop, will he be liable to being chased by the GMO company for trying to sell what they consider to be copyrighted GM organic material?

Expert response from Cathleen Enright

Former Executive Director of the Council for Biotechnology Information

Monday, 28/10/2013 14:12

No.  None of our companies has ever sued a farmer when trace amounts of our patented seeds or traits were present in the farmer’s field as an accident or as a result of inadvertent means such as through cross pollination.  

Additional responses which address similar topics can be found here:

• If I am an organic farmer, and GMO technology contaminates my crops, do I have any recourse? How do I regain my organic certification? What do I do with my contaminated crops? Who is held responsible, and what damages can I claim?
• Can someone please explain that if a farmer who doesn't grow GMO but gets contaminated by GMO from other areas can be sued by the GMO companies?
• You say that your companies are helping farmers with your GMO seeds, however everyday in the news there is court cases of the big corporations suing small family owned farmers for patent infringement. How is that helping farmers? Or suing because a farmers crop has been contaminated with GMO pollen. The farmer can not control the wind, or the birds and bees, and yet you who play God think he should.