so basically we're all living, breathing walking examples of copyright infringement?

y'know, a wise man once said that once you lose everything, you're free to do anything.

Weaver95: y'know, a wise man once said that once you lose everything, you're free to do anything.

Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose.

what about the gas I pass from my ass?

Weaver95: so basically we're all living, breathing walking examples of copyright infringement?

y'know, a wise man once said that once you lose everything, you're free to do anything.

No, patent.

Though this is a 1st Amendment case, I remember reading the beginnings of this a year or so ago.

The way this works (from my understanding) is that a biotech company can get a patent on a gene that gives them a monopoly over all research on the given gene. Effectively, if you can isolate a gene and create method by which to do so and experiment with it, you get a patent on that gene.

Based on that, it seems that if you isolate a gene that is involved in liver cancer, you get control over it, even if someone working on childhood leukemia may believe that gene is essential to their research - they need to pay to license it from you.

If only I could patent stupid. The royalties would be unimaginable.

what a weird coincidence, since it was a fifth that helped me get created.

50mm: If only I could patent stupid. The royalties would be unimaginable.

Technically, if you isolate the gene that causes stupidity, then you'd hold a monopoly over the test for stupidity.

El Chode: Based on that, it seems that if you isolate a gene that is involved in liver cancer, you get control over it, even if someone working on childhood leukemia may believe that gene is essential to their research - they need to pay to license it from you.

great idea - I'd like some Microsoft cancer, and an order of McDonalds Diabetes to go please.

an 18th century legal system riding herd on cutting edge 21st century technological research. this does not sound like a wonderful combination to me.

FTA:

The judge noted that the plaintiffs contended that patents grant Myriad ownership rights over products of nature, laws of nature, natural phenomena, abstract ideas and basic human knowledge and thought in violation of the First Amendment's protections over freedom of thought.

SO what is going to triasl here is the fact that no one can copyright or patent any natural part of the human genome, which is what the company and patent office are being sued over.

El Chode: 50mm: If only I could patent stupid. The royalties would be unimaginable.

Technically, if you isolate the gene that causes stupidity, then you'd hold a monopoly over the test for stupidity.

so if the fundies isolate the 'gay gene', they 'own' homosexuality?

Jesus. It's like a crappy Michael Crichton book come to life.

So let's bring on the genetically-modified neo-apes!

Shostie: Jesus. It's like a crappy Michael Crichton book come to life.

So let's bring on the genetically-modified neo-apes!

nope - The Dominion.

Get in line serf!

Shostie: Jesus. It's like a crappy Michael Crichton book come to life.

So let's bring on the genetically-modified neo-apes!

His last book had chapters devoted to why this is a bad thing.

Weaver95: so if the fundies isolate the 'gay gene', they 'own' homosexuality?

They'd own the test for gayness, well...more officially at least.

El Chode: 50mm: If only I could patent stupid. The royalties would be unimaginable.

Technically, if you isolate the gene that causes stupidity, then you'd hold a monopoly over the test for stupidity.

I even have a good idea for a test: "Did you forgo vaccinating your children out of fear of autism?"

Also, I'm not a patent person, so if anyone with better understanding knows more, feel free to correct me. I'm really good at talking out of my ass. I need to go unseat Corzine

El Chode: Also, I'm not a patent person, so if anyone with better understanding knows more, feel free to correct me. I'm really good at talking out of my ass. I need to go unseat Corzine

Also, go Daggett

/end threadjack

IrateShadow: Shostie: Jesus. It's like a crappy Michael Crichton book come to life.

So let's bring on the genetically-modified neo-apes!

His last book had chapters devoted to why this is a bad thing.

I know. I read the book. I was making a joke in that A) The article almost seems like a copy/paste of various situations in his book, and B) It's probably the least focused book he wrote (that I've seen so far). I consider it one of his poorest.

El Chode: Weaver95: so if the fundies isolate the 'gay gene', they 'own' homosexuality?

They'd own the test for gayness, well...more officially at least.

That was nicely done.

I walked into the forest and found a tree I like.

I think I'll patent it.


/always thought gene patents were complete b.s. and should be done away with completely

Shostie: I know. I read the book. I was making a joke in that A) The article almost seems like a copy/paste of various situations in his book, and B) It's probably the least focused book he wrote (that I've seen so far). I consider it one of his poorest.

His past few books have been awful. He's always been a little preachy, but it's starting to seem that the influence that he had during the Bush years convinced him that he was an actual authority than a novelist.

cretinbob: what about the gas I pass from my ass?

The mass without class smells like bass, alas.

IrateShadow: His past few books have been awful. He's always been a little preachy, but it's starting to seem that the influence that he had during the Bush years convinced him that he was an actual authority than a novelist.

He's got two more coming out posthumously. One is some generic techno-thriller like he's been pumping out throughout his career, the other is some pirate-related historical novel. I might pick up the latter, because his historical fiction is generally pretty good.

I don't like this, not because I see this as an infringement of personal freedom, but because I very strongly oppose movement towards Eugenics. It will lead to the newest form of discrimination, and it needs to be stifled.

This will lead the latest in patent trolling. If you have a baby with that gene, you'll be sued for infringement.