Remembering the Real Purpose of Patents | American Civil Liberties Union (Myriad/BRCA)

Remembering the Real Purpose of Patents | American Civil Liberties Union

"....As we head toward Supreme Court review of whether genes can be patented, it is important to remember a simple, but often-overlooked fact about patents and the protection of intellectual property. The intent of the patent system is to achieve a social good—not to stimulate commerce..... When it comes to gene patents, that social good has been clearly damaged. As documented in the report of the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health and Society, the interest of patients and the public has been hurt by the exclusivity generated through gene patents......