Transgenic Crops, Biotechnology and Ownership Rights: What Scientists Need to Know
Abstract
Ownership of intellectual and tangible property (IP/TP) rights in agricultural biotechnology (ag‐biotech) and transgenic plants has become critically important. For scientists in all institutions, whether industrialized or developing country, public or private sector, an understanding of IP/TP rights is fundamental in both research and development. Transgenic plants and ag‐biotech products embody numerous components and processes, each of which may have IP/TP rights attached. To identify these rights, a transgenic plant or ag‐biotech product must be dissected into its essential components and processes, with each ‘piece’ analysed under the IP/TP ‘microscope’. This product deconstruction is an integral step in product clearance (PC) analysis leading to freedom to operate (FTO). To facilitate a PC analysis, the following points are important: (1) knowing what one has and where it's from, (2) organizing material transfer agreements and licences, (3) researching scientific and patent databases and relevant literature, (4) instituting a laboratory notebook policy, (5) keeping track of ownership of germplasm and plant genetic resources, and (6) promoting ongoing IP/TP management, awareness and training. However, a FTO opinion does not solve the IP/TP issues of releasing a transgenic plant or ag‐biotech product; rather, it is a management tool for assessing the risks of litigation. When transferring transgenic plants or ag‐biotech to developing nations, scientists from industrialized countries have the heightened responsibility of verifying that IP/TP issues are fully addressed and documented. Successful technology transfer goes beyond research, development and licensing; it is an holistic package leading to long‐term partnerships in international development. Managing IP/TP requires capacity‐building in scientists and technology transfer offices, in both industrialized and developing countries.
Publication Date
8-16-2012
Journal Title
Plant Journal
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.1046/j.1365-313X.2002.01367.x
Document Type
Article
Recommended Citation
Stanley P. Kowalski, Ebora V. Reynaldo, R. David Kryder & Robert H. Potter,. "Transgenic Crops, Biotechnology and Ownership Rights: What Scientists Need to Know." 31 Plant Journal 407 (2002).
Additional Information
This article was also made available as Paper 9 in the Pierce Law Faculty Scholarship Series by NELLCO (nellco.org).