b'WHO OWNS CRISPR-Cas9? Legal wrangling is complicating life for those who want to use the technology to develop commercial products.Marc ZienkiewiczLOGAN SKORI WANTS to use CRISPR technology to launch his business, Calgarys AgGene, to new heights. But until its clearer who exactly owns the rights to the CRISPR-Cas9 tech-nology, hes being very careful.Right now, AgGene is gearing up to initiate a financing round, and a significant part of that involves securing the licensing rights for a gene editing system that suits its needs. Engaging in negotiations is a substantial aspect of this pro-cess, Skori says. Terms, limitations, and restrictions are all on the table and subject to discussion when dealing with other companies.Navigating the legal landscape is a crucial part of our strat-egy. Were not just focusing on the immediate deal; were also considering the long-term implications, anticipating potential interferences or disputes down the road. Its a complex task and resolving conflicts of this nature often takes a considerable amount of time, Skori adds.Waiting on clarification of CRISPR-Cas9s patent status isnt part of AgGenes plan, Skori says.Unfortunately, we cant afford to wait idly by for these issues to settle, as doing so would risk falling behind in this dynamic environment. So, were actively moving forward, rec-ognizing the need to make strategic decisions without letting unresolved matters hinder our progress.At issue is the fact that the patent landscape for CRISPR-Cas9 is likely to remain complicated and dynamic for years to come, as more patent applications are examined, granted, opposed or revoked in different jurisdictions. The outcome of these patent disputes could have a major impact on the innova-tion and commercialization of CRISPR-Cas9, as well as on theLogan Skori (second from right) serves as CEO of Calgarys AgGene.4GERMINATION.CAJANUARY 2024'