The concept of RNA circuits, particularly, is filled with innovation. It's equivalent to taking a highly unconventional path. After all, RNA is far behind mainstream DNA research regarding stability, synthesis and manipulation difficulty, programmability, and predictability.
Moreover, DNA technology and protein tools are relatively mature. For example, CRISPR/Cas systems and standard modules in synthetic biology. As for RNA-related tools and technology, they require independent research, as there's still no mature standard system.
In other words, if the information they have is authentic and includes a comprehensive commercial application plan, the other party will own complete intellectual property rights, almost unrestricted by any prior patents or standards.
The most critical aspect is that, at least for the time being, he can't see any signs of falsification in the series of evidence provided by the other party.
