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Anyone remember... We fooled you, huh? We're sneaky like that.

Naturally occurring things can be patented just as easily as "constructed" ones. The article itself cites the commercial work of Craig Vetner who sequenced much of the human genome for commercial gain. His work allowed for things such as the human growth hormone to be patented. It is naturally occuring but still a patented item.

One primary example is Mr. John Moore who found out, after the fact, that his doctor had patented him without his knowledge. Moreover the courts ruled that he had no recourse save to sue his doctor for failing to inform him in advance that he was a hot property. The doctoer (or rather the large pharma company) still holds the patent. See here.

In the early 90's biotech companies engaged in a wave of patent-piracy wherin they sent people all over the world to snap up patents on naturally occuring but rare plants, seeds, animals, and yes, people. In some cases they then attempted to enforce their patents on the same groups they collected them from. Imagine being an indian farmer and being told that you suddently had to pay royalties to grow the exact same grain that you had always grown before because now monsanto owned it.

Moreover it isn't just the patents on the genes themselves, it is also the patents on their use. To take a related issue consider AZT. AZT was develioped by the U.S. government and then 'sold' under the Byah-Dole act. When it was discovered that the drug could be used to fight off HIV (Again U.S. Government work done at the NIH, and CDC, at Taxpayer expense) Glaxo filed a patent In Britain for their 'discovery' and then used that patent (via international IP agreements) to take control in the U.S. In a sense they performed a 'patent-elevation' attack to gain control of publicly funded discoveries in the U.S. via international agreements. Each new discovery made by anyone is patented to elevate their control still further until all anti-retrovirals infringe upon their territory. Thus it's not just the drug but, uses, dosages, etc. that they own. (see here).

Want to know why your insurance bills are high? It's not because of frivolous lawsuits against doctors. It's because of patents on medicines, uses, dosages, techniques, etc. Courtesy of IP your cold is now private.

...and the Earth is smoother than a bowling ball. http://www.keepmedia.com/pubs/SiteManagementTechno logy/2002/08/01/151689?extID=10026.

The current Esquire (in which Jessica Biel is crowned Sexiest Woman Alive) features an article on how intelligent design is more of a threat to Christianity than it is to science. I don't have the print publication handy, but that was basically the gist of it.

Incidentally, dumbass - google "VC Investment Timeframes" duh. I could look more for you, but what's the point? You're all hat.