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Stem Cell Research Running Into IP Brick Walls

Posted by Soulskill on from the still-waiting-on-my-patent-on-cell-division-to-come-through dept.

hlovy writes "The profit motive can — yes, shockingly — drive biotech research. But, according to a report by the AFP news agency, this same drive to make money is actually putting the brakes on embryonic stem cell research. With the research already set back years due to government research bans, US scientists now face roadblocks because other universities or companies have secured exclusive rights."

5 of 131 comments (clear)

  1. The way it ought to be by ShooterNeo · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The way IP SHOULD work is this : first of all, compulsory licensing. If you patent any idea, or ask for government protection against unauthorized people who pirate or create a knockoff of your product, then you MUST

    1. Offer terms for a license to the technology, with rates proportional to the industry and the value of the product
    2. Provide the technical details needed for someone else who licenses your idea to begin work within 30 days of payment of initial fees for licensing.

  2. Edison possibly ruined science forever by mykos · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Bury the real scientists in a mountain of FUD.

    Make great advancements, but don't pursue them unless they produce a profit.

    While you're not using those advancements, be sure to sue everyone who stumbles upon what you stumbled upon first.

  3. For the last time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    It wasn't banned, it just wasn't funded by government. Stem cell research was welcome to continue, just not using government money.

  4. Polio Vaccine by 0100010001010011 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Jonas Salk refused to patent the polio vaccine.. When he was asked in a televised interview who owned the patent to the vaccine, Salk replied: "There is no patent. Could you patent the sun?"

    There is no 'greater good' research anymore, as long as people get their $. Capitalism: A Love Story is an interesting movie. Yes, it is Michael Moore, but if you go in expecting some slant it's entertaining to see how stuff has changed from "I'm not going to patent something that saved people from the Iron Lung" to "Screw you guys, I gotta get my patents".

  5. Re:What about government hindering innovation? by flaming+error · · Score: 4, Insightful

    > exclusivity contracts in medical research are stupid.
    I don't think that's exactly the problem. The article is about patents.

    Lots of people have problems with biotech patents because it seems immoral to patent a life form.

    I sympathize with that view, but in my opinion DNA is software. On patenting software I like Donald Knuth's view, that software is math and it makes no sense to patent math.