Posted on 03/20/2006 9:56:09 AM PST by Grig
• The Earth revolves around the Sun.
• The speed of light is a constant.
• Apples fall to earth because of gravity.
• Elevated blood sugar is linked to diabetes.
• Elevated uric acid is linked to gout.
• Elevated homocysteine is linked to heart disease.
• Elevated homocysteine is linked to B-12 deficiency, so doctors should test homocysteine levels to see whether the patient needs vitamins.
ACTUALLY, I can't make that last statement. A corporation has patented that fact, and demands a royalty for its use. Anyone who makes the fact public and encourages doctors to test for the condition and treat it can be sued for royalty fees. Any doctor who reads a patient's test results and even thinks of vitamin deficiency infringes the patent. A federal circuit court held that mere thinking violates the patent.
All this may sound absurd, but it is the heart of a case that will be argued before the Supreme Court on Tuesday.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I did, but I consider anyone to be an attorney who believes that all wealth rightfully belongs to lawyers, which is what "intellectual property" abuse is all about.
Where would the world be if some ancient law firm had been allowed to collect royalties on the Pythagorean Theorem in perpetuity?
I deliberately said "in perpetuity" because every time Mickey Mouse is about to enter the public domain the length of copyright is extended by Congress. It won't be long before patent duration is indefinitely extended as well, because lawyers are good at buying the laws they need to feed their greed.
Oh, I see. You would rather corporations could steal any idea they wish from an inventor. You would like to deprive inventors of capital. Wow, what a plan!
Where would the world be if some ancient law firm had been allowed to collect royalties on the Pythagorean Theorem in perpetuity?
Nobody has ever granted patent in perpetuity and Disney is still making new movies with Mickey Mouse. You just want to steal.
If you are going to nitpick, the Earth does both. It revolves as it orbits.
Amazing.
In the same sentence you say that a patent has never been granted in perpetuity AND defend the de facto perpetuity of the Mickey Mouse copyright by saying I just want to "steal."
Breathtaking. Truly breathtaking.
So which is it? Are you against "in perpetuity" patents and copyrights, or are you for them? Or were you for them before you were against them?
Your utter silence indicates that you are embarrased by the total lack of logic and ethics exhibited by your statement.
So does this mean that you believe the copyright duration on Mickey Mouse should be extended to forever?
Copyrights should be in perpetuity?
Why is it that you believe Mickey Mouse should never enter the public domain?
The original intent of copyright was to provide income to the creator during his lifetime.
Walt Disney died in 1966, forty years ago.
Why is it that you believe Mickey Mouse should never enter the public domain?
The original intent of copyright was to provide income to the creator during his lifetime.
Walt Disney died in 1966, forty years ago.
So which is it? Are you against "in perpetuity" patents and copyrights, or are you for them? Or were you for them before you were against them?
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