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IP lawyers defend IP
Posted by Jesse Reynolds November 17, 2009
Biopolitical Times
Like the US (1, 2), the Australian government is
tackling the legality of patents on human genes. The proposed
prohibitions on such patents, now under consideration in the Australian
Senate, would, according to a speaker at a recent event, "bring the
Australian biotech industry to its knees." Another speaker said:
and another said:
It would seriously affect the
biotechnology industry in that it would be difficult to attract
investment in research that has commercial opportunities if it couldn't
be protected. (And) if biological materials couldn't be patented ...
there is a likelihood that important advances in medicine would not
actually be released in Australia because there wouldn't be patent
protection.
and another said:
If
we ban the patenting of genes ... we will remove the incentive for
people to invest. I'm worried that we won't then have the genetic tests
of the future, the genetic therapies that I want us to have.
If patents on genes are so essential to the biotechnology
industry, one would expect such statements coming from that sector. However, the chief executive of Australia's biotechnology industry group asserts that an end of human gene patents would place that nation out of line with others, leading to a proliferation of counterfeit products (1, 2).
Instead, these three comments are from the Institute of Patent and Trademark Attorneys of Australia, a representative of that Institute, and an intellectual property professor. At least the lawyers know where they stand.
Previously on Biopolitical Times: