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Patents and Open Source Biotech

Posted by michael on from the my-new-asian-bird-flu-technique-is-unstoppable dept.

sebFlyte writes "Since Slashdot readers seem to be interesting in the issues and problems surrounding software patents, I thought they might be interested to see that Wired is running an interesting piece on patents in Biotech and the way that they can hold up important research, and how there are clear parallels with the open source software community with the way that advocates of openness are trying to solve these problems."

4 of 164 comments (clear)

  1. biotch? by FFON · · Score: 2, Funny
    am i the only one who read it as "biotch"

    word

    --
    .cig
  2. DNA patent enforcement by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Just wait until they crack down on people sharing their patented DNA in anonymous P2P singles bars!

  3. Editors cut out the last bit of submission by FiloEleven · · Score: 2, Funny

    sebFlyte writes "Since Slashdot readers seem to be interesting in the issues and problems surrounding software patents, I thought they might be interested to see that Wired is running an interesting piece on patents in Biotech and the way that they can hold up important research, and how there are clear parallels with the open source software community with the way that advocates of openness are trying to solve these problems."

    sebFlyte continued:

    It's very interesting. I'm interested to see what interesting direcitons may be taken if these patent holders are interested in furthuring this interesting branch of research for the good of humanity.

    (all in good fun)

    --
    Your brain is not a computer.
  4. Re:Simple solution ... by pbody · · Score: 2, Funny

    Fundamentally, I believe that scientific research is a public good

    Same here. Unfortunately, the money is limited (although, where it is going to besides the public good is a whole other can of worms). I think that if we want more basic research funded (by the people and the corporations) the answer is to get better PR. This is what the APS (American Physical Society) is trying to do this year by promoting 2005 as the "World Year of Physics".

    damn it, they should just pay us for being brilliant. ;)

    Knowledge (K) = Power (P)
    P = Work (W) / time (t)
    t = money ($)

    therefore ...

    K = W / $

    So, your salary is inversely proportional to how much you know :)