Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Inc (KBLB)

[ZincFinger]

Actually it doesn't really matter all that much which spider gene KBLB is currently using. It's exclusive rights to the use of the piggyBac and most especially SIAL's zinc fingers to do genetic manipulation on silkworms plus its current rights to 200 spider genes will clearly give it pretty exclusive control over the production of spider silk and close analogues and modifications of it. The platform worm will allow routine, rapid and inexpensive modifications whenever needed.

If someone gets rights to some new spider gene who else could they sell it to? Someone to produce a much less effective "analogue" in a bacteria or plant or animal that cannot even be spun to anything remotely close to the real thing, or to KBLB who can use it very effective and thus could afford to pay you a much better price for it?

Just as with software, many developers of applications that had to work with/enhance other programs wound up selling to Microsoft, because with its dominant position competitors could not afford to pay as much, so discoverers of new spider genes (or other genes useful in silk production/modification will generally find that KBLB is the one to sell/license to.

I'm sure that's what Kim's talking about when he speaks of lapping the competition.