Intellectual Property
Since its founding, GRT has aggressively pursued protection of its Intellectual Property by applying for patents in the United States and numerous foreign countries, with over 15 U.S. patents allowed on the technology. Though the initial patents were jointly assigned to both GRT and the University of California (due to joint inventorship), GRT has the exclusive rights to the patents along with the right to sublicense. In addition to the inventions made in conjunction with UCSB, GRT has also generated intellectual property on its own and remains the sole owner of these inventions.
In 2008, GRT closed a transaction with Marathon GTF, through which, the companies agreed to “cooperate on the advancement of technology for the conversion of natural gas into transportation fuels”. In addition, Marathon acquired a non-controlling interest in GRT. GRT obtained the exclusive, worldwide right to use all of the cross-licensed patents (with the right to sublicense) on facilities using biomethaneas a feedstock.
Throughout the commercialization path, GRT will vigorously continue to protect its Intellectual Property.