Patent network analysis in agriculture: a case study of the development and protection of biotechnologies

Autor(es)

Ferrari, Vinicius Eduardo ^[1] ; Ferreira Jardim da Silveira, Jose Maria ^[2] ; Soares Dal-Poz, Maria Ester ^[3]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Pontificia Univ Catolica Campinas, Ctr Econ & Adm, 1516 Prof Euryclides de Jesus Zerbini St, BR-13087571 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Campinas, Inst Econ, Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Estadual Campinas, Sch Appl Sci, Limeira - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: ECONOMICS OF INNOVATION AND NEW TECHNOLOGY; v. 30, n. 2 NOV 2019.
• Citações Web of Science: 0

Resumo

Plant biotechnology has consolidated itself as a radical agricultural innovation, boosting the patenting activities of universities, biotechnology firms, and seed \& agrochemicals corporations. We use patent citations networks to study the appropriability efforts that affected the emergence and dynamics of the technological trajectories (TTs) of the genetically modified organisms. Our methodological contribution consists of combining new procedures to identify TTs with the study of the characteristics of scale-free networks. This paper also proposes legal enforcement indicators that attempt to assess the economic importance of patents that make up citation networks. We identify two TTs that include patents on biotech traits and enabling technologies. These patents were both effective in collecting royalties from farmers and deterring potential entrants, particularly through intellectual property (IP) litigation. The results also show that these litigated patents have impacted merger and acquisition activity in seed industry. We conclude that IP lawsuits may have contributed to delaying the R\&D investments of new entrants, thus preserving the monopolistic position enjoyed by the pioneering company and restricting the scope of crop innovations. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 08/58041-6 - Desenho organizacional do programa BIOEN: propriedade intelectual, mecanismos de incentivo e avaliação e impactos
• Beneficiário: José Maria Ferreira Jardim da Silveira
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Programa BIOEN - Temático