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Is Genetic Use Restriction Technology (Gurt) A Viable Alternative To The Utility Patent For The Protection And Promotion Of Innovation In Genetically Engineered Agricultural Seeds?, Joseph Rosenblat

PhD Dissertations

Patent protected genetically engineered (GE) agricultural seeds allow farmers to increase the quality and yield of some of the worlds most important food crops. The ability of GE seed firms to use this technology to capture value and promote innovation may be compromised by patent regimes that are not designed to prevent the misappropriation of self-replicating, biologically-based inventions.

Unlike patents, genetic use restriction technology (GURT) provides a primarily self-contained technological method of intellectual property (IP) protection effective in weak IP environments. Currently, GURT is subject to an international commercialization moratorium because of concerns over potential negative economic, environmental, health and …