title: Freedom-to-operate analysis of a transgenic multivitamin corn variety.
abstract: In this article, we explore the intellectual property (IP) landscape relevant to the production and commercialization of Carolight(™) , a transgenic multivitamin corn variety created on humanitarian grounds to address micronutrient deficiencies in low-and-middle-income countries. The successful production of this variety requires IP rights risk management because there is a strong protection on inventions and processes via patent portfolios in both developing and industrialized countries. The IP framework is complex, and specialist patent lawyers are usually employed to perform such analysis, but the costs cannot always be met by small, publicly funded projects. We report an alternative strategy, a do-it-yourself patent analysis, to produce a review with limited legal value that can nevertheless lay the foundations for a subsequent more in-depth professional freedom-to-operate opinion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Production and Forestry Science, ETSEA, University of Lleida-Agrotecnio Center, Lleida, Spain.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zanga
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Production and Forestry Science, ETSEA, University of Lleida-Agrotecnio Center, Lleida, Spain.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Capell
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Production and Forestry Science, ETSEA, University of Lleida-Agrotecnio Center, Lleida, Spain.
authors.forename: Changfu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Production and Forestry Science, ETSEA, University of Lleida-Agrotecnio Center, Lleida, Spain.|Institucio Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avancats, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Christou
authors.affiliation: Molecular Immunology Unit, Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George's University of London, London, UK.|R4Research Limited, London, UK.
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thangaraj
mesh_terms: D001709:Biotechnology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D002338:Carotenoids; D018973:Intellectual Property; D018977:Micronutrients; D010330:Patents as Topic; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D012066:Relief Work; D014815:Vitamins; D003313:Zea mays / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D018977:Micronutrients; D014815:Vitamins; D002338:Carotenoids
keywords: carotenoids; humanitarian aspects; insect resistance; intellectual property analysis; transgenic maize