Monday, March 14, 2005

Gene patents and extraditing copyright infringers

A study by Illinois Institute of Technology researchers has concluded that the US Patent Office has been approving gene patents when the application don't meet the basic requirements for securing a patent - that it must be useful, not obvious and involve an inventive step.

Meanwhile, Aussie Hew Raymond Griffiths has lost his case against extradition to the US for conspiring to engage in and engaing in " Internet software piracy in the United States in violation of federal criminal copyright laws of that country." Kim Weatherall says "I have no view on the particular acts that Griffiths has engaged in, but extradition to the US for copyright infringement is a truly frightening prospect - particularly given that their penalties are higher. We can only hope that it doesn't become a habit for the US to seek such removal. Surely Australians can be prosecuted here if there is strong evidence of criminal copyright infringement."

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