GTAVercetti 0 #1 March 22, 2006 Check out this crazy op ed piece by Michael Crichton: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/19/opinion/19crichton.html?ex=1300424400&en=9addb806498d2739&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss The gist: Patents are out of control. Companies actually OWN the genes for diseases. Example, a company owns the right to the genes for diabetes. So any research into it must be done with royallties paid to the company. I have never heard of this. If it is indeed true, I find it unbelievable. How can someone own something so basic to nature?Why yes, my license number is a palindrome. Thank you for noticing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,148 #2 March 22, 2006 QuoteCheck out this crazy op ed piece by Michael Crichton: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/19/opinion/19crichton.html?ex=1300424400&en=9addb806498d2739&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss The gist: Patents are out of control. Companies actually OWN the genes for diseases. Example, a company owns the right to the genes for diabetes. So any research into it must be done with royallties paid to the company. I have never heard of this. If it is indeed true, I find it unbelievable. How can someone own something so basic to nature? So? The country is run for the benefit of corporations.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dorbie 0 #3 March 22, 2006 The USPTO has been running amok for years, and the awarding of patents for discovered genetic sequences is one of their more eggregious outrages, compounded by the complete lack of understanding of how most of the sequences actually function or what they even do. This is not what was anticipated when the President, the Attorney General and the Secretary of State signed the first U.S. patent. It'll all be fixed when we make all three officers personally sign all patents before they can be awarded or enforced. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #4 March 22, 2006 [off topic] - nice avitar You? (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dorbie 0 #5 March 22, 2006 Quote[off topic] - nice avitar You? No, I took the pic from my local launch site. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #6 March 22, 2006 I think God should sue them all for patent infringement. Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GTAVercetti 0 #7 March 22, 2006 QuoteI think God should sue them all for patent infringement. I think he tried, but the USPTO already gave out a patent on divine suits to someone else.Why yes, my license number is a palindrome. Thank you for noticing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Samurai136 0 #8 March 23, 2006 QuoteOh, and by the way: I own the patent for "essay or letter criticizing a previous publication." So anyone who criticizes what I have said here had better pay a royalty first, or I'll see you in court. Quote from the article. It looks like a lot of us here may owe Mr. Crichton some fees for infringing on his patent. "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,118 #9 March 23, 2006 >I have never heard of this. If it is indeed true, I find it unbelievable. >How can someone own something so basic to nature? The thinking is that allowing such patents will encourage research on them. During Amy's research year, she was looking into the benefits of hypertonic saline on the treatment of trauma. Turns out that there are some odd links between immune system function and salinity during massive injury; basically the hypertonic saline prevents shock from 'shutting down' the immune system, which can lead to infection, gangrene etc. Worked amazingly well in rats. No one's ever going to continue the research, though, because no one can patent salt water. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shotgun 1 #10 March 23, 2006 QuoteNo one's ever going to continue the research, though, because no one can patent salt water. Ah, the beauty of capitalism... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brierebecca 0 #11 March 23, 2006 QuoteI think he tried, but the USPTO already gave out a patent on divine suits to someone else. Actually, apparently divine suits get thrown out because of problems with jurisdiction and service of process. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_ex_rel._Gerald_Mayo_v._Satan_and_His_Staff Brie"Ive seen you hump air, hump the floor of the plane, and hump legs. You now have a new nickname: "Black Humper of Death"--yardhippie Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GTAVercetti 0 #12 March 23, 2006 QuoteQuoteI think he tried, but the USPTO already gave out a patent on divine suits to someone else. Actually, apparently divine suits get thrown out because of problems with jurisdiction and service of process. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_ex_rel._Gerald_Mayo_v._Satan_and_His_Staff Brie Well, actually, that would be a human suit against an immortal being. A divine suit would have God as the plaintiff. But God refuses to pay the royalty. Why yes, my license number is a palindrome. Thank you for noticing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
