Who owns the dominant patents on the bar gene?
Currently patents claiming the bar gene are mainly in the hands of Bayer Crop Science. The schematic representation below displays the corporate history of the bar gene patent portfolio. In all the bar gene patents discussed in this white paper the reader will find applicants (assignees) listed as Hoechst AG, Plant Genetic Systems NV, AgrEvo (Hoechst Schering GmbH), and Aventis (Crop Science GmbH); these company names appear in color in the graphic. For clarity, mergers, demergers, takeovers and spin-offs not related to the carryover of the portfolio relevant to this discussion have not been included in the graphic.[add a comment] [add a comment] The acquisition of the Belgian company Plant Genetic Systems (PGS) by AgrEvo in 1996 was an important strategic move to gain access to a broad portfolio of traits and enabling technologies required to participate in the highly competitive market of genetically engineered crops. At the time AgrEvo had fallen behind Monsanto and Novartis (now Sy
