Topic: The most ridiculous f'ing patent case ever.

[Pugnate]

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/05/12/us.genes.lawsuit/index.html?imw=Y&iref=mpstoryemail

... this is like the motherload of infuriatingly stupid patents.

How the fuck can you patent breast cancer genes? Seriously, wtf? This is the most absurd thing to patent ever. Judges that rule on these things need to have professional backgrounds on the subject matter or at least some common freakin' sense.

For other scientists to continue research on these genes, they have to seek "special permission" -- no doubt which will cost them six figure dollar numbers each.

For women who want to get tested to see if they have these hereditary cancer causing genes, they have to shell out at least $3000.

Ravicher offered an analogy to describe the plaintiffs' argument, saying, "It's like saying if someone removes your eyeball ... just because you remove the eyeball and wash it off, that doesn't make the eyeball patentable.

I really do like Xessive's idea of patenting the air we breathe. Even though it would get immediately thrown out of court, it would at the very least bring some attention to how stupid the entire process is.

[scottws]

Yeah, I saw this today.  It reminded me of the Michael Crichton book Next.  The book sucked, but basically it was about how businesses will try to own and manipulate the genome.  Looks like his fears are coming to fruition.

[Xessive]

Wow. I am speechless. I really don't know what to say to that.

Pug, I think it's time we start packing for the apocalypse.

[Cools!]

Patenting specific genes and genetic modifications has been going on for years. In the past it was about the specific genetic modifications, like those found in genetically modified crops, but recently companies have been patenting whole genomes, like those of the fruit fly, pig, etc. and now also human.

Basically it's a wild race right now to sequence everything and patent it. It's ridiculous to even think that patenting genes is even allowed.

[iPPi]

Yeah, I saw this today.  It reminded me of the Michael Crichton book Next.  The book sucked, but basically it was about how businesses will try to own and manipulate the genome.  Looks like his fears are coming to fruition.

Indeed, that's exactly what seems to be happening. 

[scottws]

I can't imagine it would stand up in the Supreme Court.

[Quemaqua]

What we need is some sort of professional organization who hunts these people down and puts bullets in their brains.

[gpw11]

Patenting specific genes and genetic modifications has been going on for years. In the past it was about the specific genetic modifications, like those found in genetically modified crops, but recently companies have been patenting whole genomes, like those of the fruit fly, pig, etc. and now also human.

Basically it's a wild race right now to sequence everything and patent it. It's ridiculous to even think that patenting genes is even allowed.

This is going to be a giant legal problem in the future.  I think we all know of the issues already raised with genetically modified (and patented) crops cross breeding with non modified crops on neighboring farms.  That's probably just the start and the legal system really isn't allowed.

How did the patenting of genes even really get through?  I mean historically you haven't been able to patent anything remotely resembling naturally occurring or alive, and as such people would patent the process used to create a new type of plant or whatever. I'm suprised it changed somewhere along the line.

[iPPi]

The problem is the fact that judges, and the current legal system does not fully understand the concept of genes and the repercussions of having them patented.  This is why the patents are getting through. 

The novel scott mentioned, Next really discusses this problem, although in a somewhat dramatized manner.

[Xessive]

It's the same problem when it's a technological case as well. The judges in most cases sem to be uninformed or completely ignorant of the subject, as if that's supposed to mean they're going to be unbiased.