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Cancer Mouse Not Patentable in Canada

Posted by timothy on from the say-onco-say-onco dept.

Proaxiom writes "The Globe and Mail is reporting the Supreme Court of Canada ruled today that OncoMouse, the so-called 'Harvard Mouse' that is especially prone to cancer, cannot be patented under Canadian law. The hapless rodent still enjoys patent protection in the U.S., Japan and much of Europe. So there is at least one place where higher life forms cannot be patented, but I am not familiar enough with the intricacies of international intellectual property treaties to figure out the consequences of the discrepancy. I'm sure countless IANAL's will be willing to offer opinions."

5 of 384 comments (clear)

  1. countless IANAL's by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    I am one of countless IANAL's, but sadly, I have no opinions....

  2. Re:Karmic suicide by Idarubicin · · Score: 0, Flamebait
    If you're from the United States, I have two and a half words for you: George Bush Jr.

    If you're from anywhere else, yeah--I saw that one coming. [rueful grin]

    --
    ~Idarubicin
  3. Re:Mouse Smuggling by Angry+White+Guy · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    I don't care what anyone says, that's not an interface, it's an output device!

    --
    You think that I'm crazy, you should see this guy!
  4. Re:Karmic suicide by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    dumb americans
    just stick with dubbleyeh

  5. Re:Cool by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    But they're part French, so they'd just surrender.

    OTOH, all Canada needs to do is deport them here (can they even do that?? :)