ECJ bans stem cell technique patents

[noxibox]

Are they allowed to patent real discoveries? If not then I can understand the complaints. Otherwise it's just a bunch of whiners who are upset they won't be able to block progress.

A few sites I've read say the same thing: research will move to other countries where IP can be patented. Money wins. Hopefully the other method of using adult cells can be used in the years to come.

Which will do them absolutely no good in the EU where anyone can simply copy their techniques. Regardless of where they do the research they'd have to keep it a trade secret rather than apply for a patent.

Tell me, which is the leader in the field... Open source or closed source?

Where will the money come from in a non patent, open source model?

Sounds like the FUD Microsoft always spread. Well I suppose for them it was more their difficulty in believing anyone would produce software without a big paycheque for the software itself. Anyway the development of the field is far more complex than you appear to believe.

Europe is increasingly secular, gearing itself towards a knowledge/technology based economy (which is actually the only thing it has going for it, even there it's unlikely they can compete on even footing) but the nannies in charge are too busy pandering to religious idiots to bother carry out the peoples' will, or protect their future.
While other countries further technologies and patents, and strip away their rules as a means of competing and leading in all fields, the EU is busy putting red tape all over the place with imaginary politically correct moralities. It is obvious that it is getting in it's own way on purpose, which indicates treason.
I advocate hardline secularists wrestle the EU from the clutches of these anti-euro twits, by any means necessary. No cost is too high.

Their reasoning is idiotic, but the last thing the world needs is expanding what can be patented. The current disaster we call the patent system already seriously stifles research and impedes progress.

 

[porchrat]

Are they allowed to patent real discoveries? If not then I can understand the complaints. Otherwise it's just a bunch of whiners who are upset they won't be able to block progress.

I don't know what you mean by "real discoveries" but from what I've read even if your new procedure cures cancer it makes no difference. If it involves the destruction of embryos then too bad because for some whackadoo reason that makes no sense (something about the sanctity of human life or something... which really has no place when it comes to patent law) you're not allowed to patent it.

Which will do them absolutely no good in the EU where anyone can simply copy their techniques. Regardless of where they do the research they'd have to keep it a trade secret rather than apply for a patent.

This is true yes.

Sounds like the FUD Microsoft always spread. Well I suppose for them it was more their difficulty in believing anyone would produce software without a big paycheque for the software itself. Anyway the development of the field is far more complex than you appear to believe.

With biotech though this isn't FUD. This isn't like software where it can be relatively cheap (especially initially when you're just a few guys in a garage) to build something amazing. Labs cost millions if not billions to setup and run from the start. Everything you come up with requires rigorous testing and approval not just by your own internal teams but from numerous organisations in every country across the globe. You need at least 3 trial stages before your creation is considered safe for human consumption and those organisations will even look at it. It takes many years from creation of the product to it hitting the shelves. Open source biotech isn't feasible. The dynamics are entirely different.

Their reasoning is idiotic, but the last thing the world needs is expanding what can be patented. The current disaster we call the patent system already seriously stifles research and impedes progress.

This I agree with but saying that something can't be patented just because in the process you destroy an embryo, regardless of what the process is or what it achieves, is just brainless.