Open Source Molecules

manganese4 writes "They've been discussed before in relation to Google, but the American Chemical Society has launched a new effort against perceived competitors. They are attempting to limit the government's ability to freely publish the results of scientific work paid for by tax dollars. The British journal Nature and the Univeristy of California reports on efforts by the ACS in attempting to shutdown a free database, PubChem, of molecular structures because it competes head to head with the fee-for-service Chemical Abstract Service. Their rationale is that the government should not spend taxpayer dollars on something private business is already doing. Luckily the government has not backed down."

Comments

So when...

[Vo0k]

When Osama Bin Laden will apply for US govt to remove and stop funding the US Army, because private parties (him) own private military groups?
Corporate-owned Police, IRS replaced by Mafia, and of course schools under management of MTV. Go Private Property!

Oh, it hurts.

[otter42]

Who finds it ironic that Nature charges for access to an article championing free access to information?

Re:Adjective != Noun

[Anonymous Coward]

My hero.

Re:Not so fast, Uncle Sam

[phiwum]

reading this really raised some eyebrows for me.

The not-for-profit organisation paid out 46% of its total expenses of $404m in salaries and fringe benefits last year, with its executive director receiving a total compensation package of over $1m.

he gets paid more than the president?

His college transcript is better than the president's. Let that be a lesson to us: your permanent record really does follow you around.

Because they are.

[noamt]

Service.java:2: illegal combination of modifiers: public and private
public private void service() {
^
1 error

Think of the CHILDREN

[Idarubicin]

Now where's the common sense here?

If molecules are open source, then people will be able to make them in their own homes, without appropriate supervision or regulation. Many people may not be aware of the following facts about molecules.

-All known chemical poisons are made of molecules.
-Osama bin Laden's men were carrying molecules when they boarded the aircraft destined to strike the WTC towers. It is believed these molecules were used in the attack.
-Molecules are frequently used as part of copyright infringement schemes. Bootleg DVDs contain high concentrations of molecules.
-Weapons of mass destruction contain molecules.

Please, will someone think of the of children?