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A new twist on DNA patents: copyright it
Posted by Kevin Chen on Tuesday, May 21 @ 22:42:27 EDT Patent
Article from Wired:

Companies doing genomic research, like Redwood City's Maxygen, have a problem. To make money, the companies feel they need to control the rights to the DNA sequences they uncover. But patenting these sequences is ethically and legally tricky.

So, Maxygen's scientists and lawyers are proposing a downright odd solution to this pickle: Encode the DNA sequences as MP3s or other music files and then copyright these genetic "tunes." There's been software on the market for years that can make this switch.

As the "authors" of these DNA-based songs, Maxygen could, in theory, control the rights to the compositions for 95 years or more ­-- as opposed to the 17 years given under current patent law.

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"User's Login" | Login/Create an Account | 1 comment
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Re: A new twist on DNA patents: copyright it (Score: 1)
by tompoe on Wednesday, May 22 @ 14:07:46 EDT
(User Info | Send a Message) http://www.studioforrecording.org/
"There are no other known sources that could provide access to the data to
be used for the Human Genome Project.

Description:
The Department of Energy (DOE) intends to negotiate and award a sole-source
contract to Celera Genomics, Inc. of Rockville, Maryland under the
authority of FAR 6.302-1. The three-year contract is for a license
agreement which will grant DOE and its Laboratories access to the Celera
Discovery System, as well as the Celera Genomic Databases, to support DOE
research under the Human Genome Project. See Note 22."

This quote is from the bid notices sent out daily by government agencies. Only those who can afford the millions of dollars for a subscription to Celera, are able to even think about doing research. The situation continues to get worse. Along with this observation, one must consider that there is a blurring of the lines between patent and copyright, as demonstrated above, and the increasing awareness that at some point in the not-too-distant future, we'll have one term, "intellectual property" ruling. For the world community, the concept of creativity and innovation due to the risk of entry under the present system is not a reality any longer. What a shame! Those who would abuse the copyright and patent systems should be banned as professionals.
Thanks,
Tom Poe
Reno, NV
http://www.studioforrecording.org/
http://www.ibiblio.org/studioforrecording/
http://rentotahoe.pm.org/


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