11.   But American drug makers say it destroys their patent rights and legalizes piracy.

12.   But if a company wants patent rights to a discovery, the answer is a flat-out no.

13.   But Intel asked Intergraph on several occasions to relinquish the patent rights in return for access to new products and technology, he said.

14.   But pharmaceutical companies refused to relinquish their patent rights, and the prices they set kept the drugs out of the hands of millions.

15.   But some features of the new contracts irked many of the PC makers, including one placing tighter limits on their ability to assert their patent rights against Microsoft.

16.   Cerasoli said the researchers patented their work on the drug at the state lab and granted the patent rights to a private company.

17.   Dolan said the company had to take whatever legal actions were available to it to extend its patent rights or it would face the wrath of shareholders.

18.   Finally, one executive said the companies had become embroiled in disputes over patent rights.

19.   For decades, U.S. corporations, businessmen and inventors seeking patent rights in Japan have complained about the Japanese Patent Office.

20.   For instance, why did the company wait so long before asserting its patent rights?