Slashdot Mirror
New Technique Makes Most Gene Patents Irrelevant
Billy the Mountain writes "This Scientific American article, Legal Circumvention, describes a technique for circumventing gene patents whereby living cells are coaxed into expressing genes, especially those genes currently held under patents. Although, would-be exploiters of genes are prevented by patent restrictions from constructing a particular sequence and replicating it, patent law cannot be enforced in instances where an existing cell or organism is caused to express any of these patented genes and proteins."
But the changes required to avoid the patents, in my opinion, are likely to be more expensive than licensing the patent itself. It is very difficult to find a gene product that can be used without cellular purification....
-Sean
This case is a big deal here in Saskatoon. Your facts are incorrect: it was shown that the seeds could not have blown off a truck. An engineer here at the U of S showed, in court, that the seeds could not have been distributed in such a way.
We would call them ribosomes. :)
Um.... PCR WAS patented when it was discovered. And with every PCR machine and every lot of TAq and related polymerases that you buy a little bit of license fee goes back to the current licenseholder (Roche). Hope that clears up your illness. Next time do a bit of research before spouting off, m'kay?
1984 was supposed to be a warning, not an instruction manual.
So what? The patent system is supposed to cover _inventions_, not discoveries. No matter how hard the discovery is. Synthesize a gene which cures anemia? Patent that. Find one in nature? That's clever, but not patentworthy.