Monsanto's settlement with the University of California came just as the chemical giant was scheduled to go to trial regarding it's alledged infringement on a growth hormone used to stimulate growth in dairy cows (buy organic, yall). U of C sued in 2004 alledging that Monsanto's BST product infringes upon a University patent for a similar synthetic product, bovine somatotropin. Monsanto agreed to pay $100 million to cover past royalties as well as $5 per year going forward as a continuing license. U of C holds the somatotropin patent through 2023.

It is worth noting that the UK's independent advisory body, the The Farm Animal Welfare Council - established by the British government in 1979 - called for a moratorium on the use of BST in the UK in 1994, about the same time it was approved for use in the U.S.

More here.

-- MDT