U.S. Intellectual Property Rules Hinder Space Station Research

摘要

Zero Gravity Solutions Inc. plans to conduct research in the international space station's U.S. National Laboratory aimed at producing plants that thrive in new environments: rice that grows in brackish water, drought-resistant corn and citrus trees immune to cold snaps. If the company succeeds in developing those new crops on Earth, the U.S. Plant Varieties Protection Act would provide it with exclusive control over discoveries for at least 20 years. If the discoveries occur on the space station, however, Zero Gravity Solutions would have exclusive rights to its inventions for only five years.