Patent bullshit
I think this is a very important interview. It’s sheds light on some scary aspects of the kinds of things being patented nowadays. I think everyone should listen to this interview:
Talk of the Nation, December 1, 2006 · A new report says the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is too liberal in awarding patents for the basic building blocks of science, and science suffers as a result.
npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6566273
This interview starts out with a setup like this:
‘Imagine going in for a checkup and having your doctor recommend a test for a genetic mutation known to increase your risk for a certain disease. Now that test might otherwise cost, say, $100, but you’re going to pay $300 because the company that developed the test has a patent on the procedure and anybody wanting to use that test must pay royalties.‘ … and then the interview goes on to discuss the various ASSININE things that are being patented- things that could possibly save lives if they were able to be used by any doctor, anywhere. Imagine being a doctor and then being sued for THINKING about the connection between a certain amino acid level and a medical condition.
I just really think this is an important issue and that if the patent system is not changed, the ramifications could be terrible.