[Pharm-policy] Peter Gosselin: Patents: Bayh-Dole Act and DNA sequencer

[James Love]

Another very interesting and important story about US funded research.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/20000514/t000045645.html

Sunday, May 14, 2000 |  Print this story 


Law Catalyzes Research but May Face Dilution 
Patents: Bayh-Dole Act has hastened drug and Internet
breakthroughs. DNA sequencer case may test its limits. 

 By PETER G. GOSSELIN, Times Staff Writer


The automated DNA sequencer could turn out more than a draft of the
human genetic code. It could produce the first significant legal test of
Washington's rights under a 2-decade-old law designed to speed
technological change by pushing federally funded research into private 
hands. 
                      
The 1980 law, known as the Bayh-Dole Act, was approved at a time when
America seemed to be losing its high-tech edge to Japan and other
rivals. The law sought to do something about the problem by allowing
scientists to patent discoveries made with taxpayer money and, along
with their universities, license the findings to companies for use in
developing commercial products. 

    [snip]
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James Love, Director           | http://www.cptech.org
Consumer Project on Technology | mailto:love@cptech.org 
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