The Broad Institute in Cambridge, US, and its partners Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and The Rockefeller University have submitted 22 patents in response to a call to create a joint licensing pool for Crispr genome editing technology. Such a platform would allow groups attempting to commercialise Crispr-based products to avoid IP complications. The tangled legal landscape currently surrounding Crispr could hinder the development of new therapies that exploit the tool.

The pooled licensing facility is being organised by MPEG LA, an intellectual property rights management company, that specialises in combined patent models. Chief executive Larry Horn said in a statement that Crispr is ‘too important to be left at risk of endless patent battles and splintered licensing regimes’, and that ‘a pool providing one-stop licensing efficiency and predictability to scientists and businesses worldwide represents the best hope to unleash its life-enhancing potential’.

‘We strongly support making Crispr technology broadly available,’ said the Broad’s chief business officer, Issi Rozen. ‘We look forward to working with others to ensure the widest possible access to all key Crispr intellectual property,’ she added.

The Author is a Patent Specialist from MR Technollect Solutions (www.MRTechnollect.com)