TEXAS, USA, Aug. 25, 2001: A Texas company’s attempt to patent a type of basmati rice became a touchstone for anti-globalization protest in the 1990’s. But the long-simmering issue was largely settled this week, when the United States granted a narrower patent to the company, Ricetec of Alvin, Texas. The United States originally granted the patent in 1997, touching a nerve in India, leading to a challenge by the Indian government. After this week’s decision, the Indian government said it saw no reason for further dispute. The new patent is limited to a few variants of the rice and will not hamper export of its own basmati product, the government concluded.
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