You can own your Jeans, but not your Genes

[mikehzz]

I think the law is an ass.

Australian court backs claim to own breast cancer gene - CNN.com (http://edition.cnn.com/2013/02/15/world/asia/australia-breast-cancer-gene-patent/)

[Mick_Marsh]

The law is an ass, but not in this case.
The decision was you can own your own gene but, when a small section of it is extracted, it is patentable. Just like a pharmaceutical. They've got to make back the money they've spent on the research. It funds more research.

[Chucaro]

I think the law is an ass.

Australian court backs claim to own breast cancer gene - CNN.com (http://edition.cnn.com/2013/02/15/world/asia/australia-breast-cancer-gene-patent/)

If you are worried always is plan B.
In Brasil intellectual property of drugs are not protected if they put in disadvantage the human right to have a proper health care. Vaccines, medicament and medical procedures have to be affordable to all.

[mikehzz]

It narrows the scope of the research to those who have the patent. Let's hope they don't hold us over too much of a barrel with the cost. The ABC told us yesterday about some patient procedures at Westmead have had to be discontinued because of the patent decision. Bad luck for those patients, they can't even take solace that they are funding more research because Westmead can't afford the bill.