The Role of Patent Rights in Mergers: Consolidation in Plant Biotechnology

Alan Marco () and Gordon Rausser

American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 2008, vol. 90, issue 1, 133-151

Abstract: Few empirical studies have addressed the impact of the patent system on industry structure. Using firm-level patent data for firms in plant biotechnology, we develop a measure of patent enforceability. Duration models show that patent statistics are useful predictors of the timing of consolidation and that patent enforceability is an important factor influencing the likelihood of consolidation. Acquisitions in plant biotechnology may be motivated by the enforcement of patent rights when firms have overlapping technologies; some merger activity may be explained by attempts to avoid mutually blocking technology, as exemplified by the case of Roundup Ready corn. Copyright 2008, Oxford University Press.

Date: 2008
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Working Paper: The Role of Patent Rights in Mergers: Consolidation in Plant Biotechnology (2007)
Working Paper: The Role of Patent Rights in Mergers: Consolidation in Plant Biotechnology (2007)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:oup:ajagec:v:90:y:2008:i:1:p:133-151

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