5th World Conference of Science Journalists

PRODUCER: Richard Jefferson

SESSION REPORT: Thinking positively patents

By Graeme Stemp-Morlock

Everything is patented, especially in the life sciences. It seems every time an institution finds a gene it immediately patents it and sells it to some company. But, this is incredibly problematic for those people who need this technology but can’t afford it.

Richard Jefferson has an idea of how to do away with patents, or at least create a sort of open source biotechnology. “A patent is a device to deny access,” said Jefferson. “You disclose your information and in return the state allows you to monopolize that information for a certain number of years.”

Jefferson believes that this system is not only outdated, but costing the health and lives of millions who can’t benefit from this knowledge. So, he suggests patenting everything.

Say what?

That’s right, he suggests patenting everything, but instead of demanding money for the use of your patent you demand a code of behavior. So, group B uses the information from group A that has a patent dictating behavior. In return, group B must allow group C, D, E, or whoever to use the information they discover from using group A’s patent. In other words, all the information becomes open access much like open access computer software.

This system would work exceedingly well if one gets around the most basic level of biotechnology, the use of the Agrobacterium for gene transfer. By using an alternate method of transfer everything discovered in this method could become open source.

In total this would mean that not only would biotechnology be available to the masses who don’t have the resources to afford the tools, but it becomes a lot more profitable. “Biotechnology is a really good way to lose your money because it has the wrong focus,” said Jefferson. “It should be focused on the building not the tools.”

If Jefferson has his way, public institutions will start patenting their discoveries with codes of behaviors, then the tools could be used by any and all and biotechnology might really achieve the promise we all dream of.