Stem Cell Research Running Into IP Brick Walls 131
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."
Re:What about government hindering innovation? (Score:2, Insightful)
You actually believe that research and development funded with tax money winds up in the public domain? What a naive liberal.
The way it works is that public money is given to universities and such which have aggressive patent portfolio departments. They operate these patent portfolios in order to extract as much money from the private sector as possible licensing the IP that they "developed" using tax money.
Its the same with copyrights on software. Tax money funds the development of software which is then made into proprietary products.
Re:What about government hindering innovation? (Score:5, 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.
A ban is different from a refusal to fund (Score:3, Insightful)
I don't plan to pay you (anyone reading this) to establish a church on Mars. You may think it's a good idea, but I have objections.
However, please don't interpret this as a ban on your doing so.
If you do, you are dum.
Thanks,
timothy