ABSTRACT
This paper examines the
international patent behavior of nine major firms for seven
patent authorities: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the
European Patent Office (EPO), Japan, and South Africa. The
patent sample is based on firms having an initial US patent
application; this provides an indication of the amount of
technology transfer that occurs from the United States to
other countries. Using patent data, the research examines
the correlation of firms' patent application decisions based
on crop and invention types, the differences in the patent
grant rates among the patent authorities, and firms'
decisions to pursue patent renewals. The analysis uses
empirical evidence to justify possible reasons for the lack
of observing much technology transfer from the United States
to other countries. Australia, Canada, and the EPO are most
likely to receive patent applications. Corn and soybean and
gene and method inventions are most likely to be applied for
abroad. Approval rates are generally low and vary among
patent offices.