PCR Licensing for Crop Diagnostics

[Kevin O'Donnell]

Dear Colleagues,

I recently contacted Hoffman la Roche, the holders of the PCR patent, 
with a view to obtaining a license at some future date, for assays 
being developed in my laboratory.

Much to my surprise, I received a reply not from Roche but from 
Perkin-Elmer, informing me that they have obtained the rights to 
licence agricultural applications of PCR from Roche.

What shocked me however, were the conditions that pekin elmer are 
offering:

1) A 10,000 USD one-off payment

AND

2) A 15% royalty based on the *cost* of the assay.