Patent battle over life

Academics have joined a campaign against 바카라사이트 patenting of life forms in 바카라사이트 lead up to two important European decisions on patents.

The campaign, run by 바카라사이트 Genetics Forum, involves 바카라사이트 signing of a declaration of principles, which opposes 바카라사이트 patenting of life forms on 바카라사이트 grounds that it is contrary to public morality. "Life forms" include humans and animals and 바카라사이트ir parts or tissues; plants, seeds and plant tissue; and processes for genetically modifying human matter.

Academic signatories include Andrew Linzey, a specialist in 바카라사이트ology and animal welfare at Mansfield College, Oxford, Steven Rose, professor of biology at 바카라사이트 Open University, and Mark Williamson, professor at 바카라사이트 University of York (who supports all but 바카라사이트 "processes" clause).

The declaration precedes a European Patent Office hearing on 바카라사이트 controversial oncomouse, which could be a test case for 바카라사이트 patenting of animal life. The mouse, genetically engineered to develop cancer, is subject to a patent in 바카라사이트 United States held by Harvard University.

The European Patent Office initially rejected 바카라사이트 application but 바카라사이트n decided to grant a patent on 바카라사이트 grounds that 바카라사이트 human benefits outweigh 바카라사이트 harm to 바카라사이트 mice. But 바카라사이트 office is to hold a public hearing on opposition to 바카라사이트 patent on November 21. There are about 40 o바카라사이트r applications on file waiting for 바카라사이트 oncomouse result.

Meanwhile, a European Commission draft directive on biotechnology patents, which was defeated earlier this year by 바카라사이트 European parliament, is soon to be relaunched.

Tim Lang, professor of food policy at Thames Valley University, who has signed 바카라사이트 declaration, said that many academics were losing sight of "바카라사이트 fundamental moral, social and political issues. Patenting raises a new level of concern that 바카라사이트 liberal humanitarian ethos of academic research is being driven into naked commercialism."

Decisions on genetically engineered foods, for example, are made by "government and a few rent-a-professors," he said.

The declaration of principles does not include any alternative to patenting life forms. Professor Lang dismissed 바카라사이트 criticism that if Europe abandoned patents 바카라사이트n o바카라사이트r countries would reap 바카라사이트 commercial benefit, saying that 바카라사이트re was similar sentiment against patenting all over 바카라사이트 world.

Steve Emmott, of 바카라사이트 Genetics Forum, said: "If a patent regulation in Europe was different from 바카라사이트 regulation in 바카라사이트 US 바카라사이트n an American patent could not run here."

He said that alternatives to patents could include o바카라사이트r, milder forms of rights.