SACGHS on Gene Patents

The Health and Human Service's Secretary's Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health and Society is expected to release six recommendations concerning gene patents, reports ScienceInsider. One of the recommendations advises that Congress exempt gene patents from infringement liability, which ScienceInsider says would "potentially allowing anyone to use any gene patent" and that has drawn the ire of some industry folks.

At Patent Docs, Donald Zuhn notes that BIO President and CEO Jim Greenwood says that these recommendations "would undermine the U.S. patent system and the Bayh-Dole technology transfer system that have served our nation so well." Former Senator Bayh adds that these changes are trying "to reimpose the failed policies of the past, policies that just didn't work."