[rauljara]

The problem here is that Monsanto had defacto pressured Argentine shipping companies into inspecting cargo and demanding documentation from farmers. Monsanto just doesn't have the right to do that, and Argentina is absolutely right to make that clear. It's the same way record companies don't have the authority to hire private police to break into your home and check if you have pirated mp3's on your computer.

[hodwik]

Shipping companies have international legal obligations to make sure they are not transporting illegal wares. This has been settled international law for a hundred years.

Argentina is ignoring their obligation to support intellectual property rights, which they have agreed to in hundreds of trade agreements.

Monsanto isn't "hiring private police", they are threatening shipping companies who aren't performing their due diligence to assure they aren't transporting illegal goods.

[1_2__3]

Your comment would make a lot more sense if it wasn't the very government that's charged with enforcing these laws that's saying Monsanto isn't following them.

It's funny that you act like Monsanto is the legal enforcement entity here and the Argentina government are the lawbreakers. But hey, even if you weren't spouting corporate B.S., the right thing for Monsanto to do is to use the legal avenues available to them to hold the government accountable - not coerce private companies into doing their bidding.

[hodwik2]

Monsanto is absolutely using legal avenues.

International shipping companies are subject to international law. Monsanto is threatening them with international law. That is fully within their bounds.

Argentina is operating outside of the international laws and norms here, and should reap the consequences.

[edko]

Which International law is it that grants a private corporation inspection rights in sovereign nations?

[lettergram]

Well... Ford use to do this to an extent. i.e. They used to inspect employees homes to ensure conditions were met.

http://jalopnik.com/when-henry-fords-benevolent-secret-polic...