Multinational Technology Diffusion in Agriculture

This paper presents data on international technology diffusion of agricultural biotechnology. Patent family data, which identify related intellectual property in different countries with the same owner, represents technology flows between countries. Technology flows occur mostly between developed countries, and are similar for different types of entities (private, non-profit and university, government) that seek patent protection abroad. Technology diffusion through patent families is a significant predictor of international trade flows, which is consistent with several different models of trade.Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

CONCENTRATION AND TECHNOLOGY IN AGRICULTURAL INPUT INDUSTRIES

Consolidation in the agricultural biotechnology industry can both enhance and dampen market competition. This report examines the causes and consequences of industry consolidation and its effect on market efficiency. In some cases, concentration realizes economies of scale, which can improve market efficiency by driving down production costs. The protection of intellectual property rights is integral to the agricultural biotechnology marketplace, stimulating research and development, investment, and the development of substitute markets. However, excessively broad intellectual property rights can hinder the market for innovation. Recent data on mergers, acquisitions, and strategic collaborations in the agricultural biotechnology industry, as well as the emergence of "life science" conglomerates, indicate some level of consolidation. However, the move by some companies to divest their seed operations calls into question the long-term viability of these conglomerates.industry concentration, consolidation, biotechnology, market efficiency, market power, intellectual property rights, agricultural input industries, mergers, acquisitions, Agribusiness, Industrial Organization,

Summary Jurisdiction in Bankruptcy: Katchen v. Landy and Questions Left Unanswered

This article deals with a complex and conceptually difficult phase of bankruptcy law. It is not written for the beginner, for it does not contain all the background material necessary to effectuate a full understanding of the area. But it is extremely objective, and it exhaustively treats the relevant appellate court decisions. For the informed reader, therefore, it is both thought-provoking and an invaluable research tool

PATENT PROTECTION AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW CROP VARIETIES: CASE STUDY OF THE HIGH PECTIN TOMATO

Intellectual property is only one element of successful R&D. Our case study tracks a GM crop variety from R&D to processing and retailing. One finding that emerged was the importance of factors besides patent protection for developing a new technology, such as effective partnering and supply chain management.Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Industry-Science Connections in Agriculture: Do public science collaborations and knowledge flows contribute to firm-level agricultural research productivity?

Prior research identifies a direct positive link between the stock of public scientific knowledge and agricultural productivity; however, an indirect contribution to agricultural productivity is also possible when this stock facilitates private sector invention. This study examines how “connectedness” between the stock of public scientific knowledge and private firms influences firm-level research productivity. Bibliographic information identifies the nature and degree to which firms use public agricultural science through citations and collaborations on scientific papers. Fixed effects models show that greater citations and collaborations with university researchers are associated with greater agricultural research productivity.public science, research productivity, patents, citations, collaboration, R&D, Productivity Analysis, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, Q16, O31,

GOVERNMENT PATENTING AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER

Intellectual property rights such as patents protect new inventions from imitation and competition. Patents' major objective is to provide incentives for invention, sacrificing short-term market efficiency for long-term economic gains. Although patents are primarily granted to private firms, policy changes over the last 25 years have resulted in greater use of patenting by the public sector. This study examines government patenting behavior by analyzing case studies of patenting and licensing by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. ARS uses patenting and licensing as a means of technology transfer in cases in which a technology requires additional development by a private sector partner to yield a marketable product. Licensing revenue is not a major motivation for ARS patenting. More widespread use of patenting and licensing by ARS has not reduced the use of traditional instruments of technology transfer such as scientific publication. Once the decision has been made to patent and license a technology, the structure of the licensing agreement affects technology transfer outcomes. As commercial partners gain experience with the technology and learn more about the market, mutually advantageous revisions to license terms can maintain the incentives through which private companies distribute the benefits of public research.patents, licenses, intellectual property rights, technology transfer, Agricultural Research Service, agricultural research and development, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Redshifts of the Gravitational Lenses MG1131+0456 and B1938+666

The redshifts of the gravitational lens galaxies in MG1131+0456 and B1938+666 are 0.844 and 0.881 respectively. Both are early-type galaxies lying at the redshifts predicted by assuming that they are early-type galaxies with old stellar populations lying on the fundamental plane. We also find evidence for a foreground group of galaxies at z=0.343 near MG1131+0456. The source redshifts are predicted to be >1.8 in both systems, but they are so red that infrared spectra will be required to determine their redshifts.Comment: 10 pages, AASTeX Latex, including 1 JPEG and 2 postscript figures, submitted to Astronomical Journal Minor typos fixe

The Theoretical Core and Academic Legitimacy: A Response to Professor Weber

We respond to Ron Weber’s commentaries regarding the necessity of a theoretical core in achieving academic legitimacy for the IS field. We examine the practical problems in identifying a theoretical core, clarify the ontological connection between identity and legitimacy, acknowledge mistakes in our earlier formulation criticizing the necessity of theory in legitimation, and attempt a synthesis between our views and those of Weber. The paper concludes with suggestions for improving the workability of efforts to improve the legitimacy of the IS field