Patents On Synthetic Life "Extremely Damaging"

An anonymous reader writes "Pioneer and veteran of genomics Professor John Sulston is extremely concerned about the patent applications on the first synthetic life-form. The patents were filed by the Venter Institute following the announcement of the first life-form to have a synthetic genome. Sulston claims the patent is excessively broad and would stifle research and development in the field by creating an effective monopoly on synthetic life and related molecular techniques. Prof. Sulston had previously locked horns ten years ago with Dr. Craig Venter over intellectual property issues surrounding the human genome project. Fortunately, Sulston won the last round and the HGP is freely accessible — Venter had wanted to charge for access, just as he now wishes to make 'synthetic life' proprietary."

Comments

Patents stiffle innovation ? hahaha come on

[unity100]

youve got to be kidding me. did medieval feudalism stifle economic activity ?

Re:This ain't a patent troll

[Solandri]

Which would have given others with less money more of a chance to work on this

The "from each according to his ability, to each according to his need" idea has been tried before. It failed pretty miserably. Like it or not, greed is just about the best motivator there is to get people to actually do things.