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May 13, 2013 An Indiana farmer bought soybeans that he knew likely included some with genetic modifications developed by Monsanto. The agribusiness giant sued because it controls the patent on such soybeans. The Supreme Court says the farmer infringed on Monsanto's legal rights.

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April 15, 2013 Same-sex marriage got huge headlines at the Supreme Court last month, but in the world of science and medicine, the case being argued on Monday is far more important. The lawsuit deals with a truly 21st century issue that in some cases can pit drugmakers against patients.

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On Morning EditionPlaylist

April 1, 2013 Novartis lost its bid to patent one of its cancer drugs. Indian authorities say the drug is too much like an earlier version. Novartis says the ruling may dampen drug companies' willingness to work in India. Others say the ruling will help make less expensive drugs available to the world's poor.

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October 23, 2012 On today's show, we talk with a Stanford law professor about the problems with software patents — and how to fix the system.

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September 10, 2012 Industrial designers are conflicted over the impact a jury's decision that Samsung infringed on many of Apple's mobile phone patents. Some say it might cramp creativity. Others say it will free them from having to make designs that look just like Apple's.

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On All Things ConsideredPlaylist

August 31, 2012 Hanging out with meat inventors, cutting up chickens, and thinking about patents and innovation.

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August 30, 2012 A meat inventor demonstrates U.S. patent 5,346,711. Invented in a converted garage, now available at a Popeye's near you.

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August 25, 2012 The legal win over Samsung, and the more than $1 billion in damages awarded, could send rival phone makers scrambling to make their products less "Apple-like."

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August 24, 2012 Eugene Gagliardi also invented KFC's popcorn chicken. And he's got some ideas about drumsticks.

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August 2, 2012 IBM and Halliburton may be trying to do an end-run around patent litigation — by patenting it.

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July 31, 2012 This week's Apple-Samsung case is just the latest battle in a global war over high-tech patents. Judges, it seems, are getting fed up.

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May 22, 2012 Meat researchers say they've discovered a new steak. "It's an un-obvious chunk of meat that has been sitting there — a little diamond surrounded by a bunch of coal."

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April 23, 2012 Eric Von Hippel of MIT explains why so many Americans are inventing new products at home, even though the odds of commercial success are stacked against them.

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