Discussed 1-2 days ago (104 | 61 comments):<p><a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19750014" rel="nofollow">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19750014</a>
This sounds weird. From the title I assumed it was something like putting transparent logo stickers on apples and later remove then after the apple skin color had been affected.<p>This however seems to be Pepsi assuming they "own" a variety of potatoes, something that is against all biological sense.<p>I'll say ok to people owning a potato <i>brand</i>, around here we have Ringerikspotet which is a) a variety and b) has to be grown at Ringerike to be sold under that name.<p>Same goes for Champagne.<p>But nobody sues anybody if they farm Champagne type grapes as long as they don't say Champagne. Same goes for the potato mentioned above, you are free to put it in the ground next spring.<p>I'd maybe stretch as far as saying if you come up with a new potato you shouldn't be forced to sell live ones and if you maintain tight control and only sold them as chips you could keep that potato to yourself.<p>But if someone finds a potato and grows it, no way I agree anybody should have any right to sue.<p>Because if this was true monastries, farmers and gardeners would be the wealthiest "companies" in the world.<p>(I know Monsanto is into this as well and I dislike them as well.)
Not only do I support the continued "stealing," I hope there's a farmer's campaign against Pepsi in India that leads to the company being banned as a whole. They have no idea of the depths of anger emerging out of the ongoing agrarian crisis.
Let’s be clear, farmers could grow any potato they want and these potatoes are specifically designed for lays chip (loser moisture content for taste). This isn’t a case where the seeds are providing special protection from pests and disease that threaten a farmer’s livelihood. Pepsi wants to protect their R&D investment and product. Because this invention is a special ingredient in their food and they don’t want it in competing products. If you don’t think IP isn’t important in innovation, VCs pass on investments all the time simply because there’s no defensibility. That means great and important products are never developed because there is no financial incentive.
I never realized they(Pepeico) were using sacred potatoes they didn’t want others to use. This is the first I have heard if it. I will support them also and no longer buy any of their chips. Enjoy all your potatoes.