Article taken from Today (http://www.todayonline.com) on 16 Jan 2012

• Now that passage of the America Invents Act (patent reform) is all but certain – it’s only awaiting the President’s signature
• It is clear that the current first-to-invent system almost never benefits the independent inventor.
• Further, the cost of proving who was first to invent, under the current system, is prohibitive to small businesses and independent inventors. It costs an average of $400,000 to $500,000 in legal fees to engage in interference proceedings to determine who invented first.
• So the facts demonstrate that the current system of first-to-invent actually favors those with deep pockets and works to the disadvantage of small companies and independent inventors with limited resources.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/04/01/60minutes/main6354069.shtml?tag=currentVideoInfo;segmentTitle

Below are some interesting extract from the article..

• “Myriad Genetics controls all testing on the two breast cancer genes because they own the genes, lock stock and barrel. They patented them and no one else can legally test for them, or look at them, or even develop potential therapies that are based on them without Myriad’s consent.”

Click here to discuss

• And there is the issue of cost. In most of Europe and Canada, where Myriad’s patents have been challenged or ignored, the test is given at a fraction of the $3,200 Myriad charges.

• Asked how much she thinks the test would cost if the breast cancer gene was in the public domain, Andrews said, “I think maybe $300. I’ve had people, geneticists, tell me they would be willing to do it for less than that.”

• “Well, you’re right about what the patent law was intended to do, which was to reward inventors who brought something new in the world. But the patent on human genes, it’s as if the first surgeon who took a kidney out of your body then patented the kidney,” Andrews replied.

• “Since then, nearly 10,000 have been patented, nearly a third of the genes in your body.”
• “A gene is a natural, living thing. How on Earth can anyone allow patenting of a gene?” Milunsky asked.

Trevor Baylis, who invented the wind-up radio, has written to the business secretary urging him to criminalise the theft of intellectual property.

The move would involve a fundamental change to the law on patents.

Currently, inventors have to sue those they believe have stolen their idea through the civil courts.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8232130.stm

Click here for link
http://www.iiprd.com/seminar_sep_2009.htm

• http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_391070.html

• http://www.ipos.gov.sg/leftNav/pat/PPH+(IPOS-JPO).htm

Click here for slide