CGS : Patents & Other IP

About Patents, Other Intellectual Property & Human Biotechnology

Human biotechnology is both constrained and catalyzed by intellectual property law, which regulates who can use certain information, ideas, and processes. Patents—one form of intellectual property—give the holder an exclusive right to produce and sell an invention.

While patents provide an incentive to inventors, they can also inhibit information flow. Their management has a tremendous impact on how biotechnologies are developed, and who benefits from them.

In the United States, the development of biotechnology has been dramatically influenced by two developments in 1980 that greatly increased the incentives for the commercialization of the life sciences. Congress passed the Bayh-Dole Act, which reformed how inventions from federally-funded research are managed. The same year, the Supreme Court ruled in Diamond v. Chakrabarty that living things, including genes, could be patented.

Angelina Jolie and the Fate of Breast Cancer Genes[Quotes CGS's Marcy Darnovsky]by Alexandra Le Tellier, Los Angeles TimesMay 14th, 2013Angelina Jolie described her double mastectomy as a way to gain control over mutations in her "breast cancer genes," but how much control we have over BRCA1 and BRCA2, and human genes in general, is yet to be determined.

Patenting Parthenotes: High Court Asks if Parthenotes are 'Human Embryos' Under the Biotech Directiveby Antony Blackburn-Starza, BioNewsApril 29th, 2013The UK's High Court has asked the Court of Justice of the European Union to clarify if human parthenotes fall under the definition of a human embryo for the purposes of patentability.

In Australia, Gene Patents Also Subject of High Court Struggleby Leigh Dayton, ScienceApril 19th, 2013Australia's Full Federal Court has begun proceedings in an appeal of an earlier decision that upheld the validity of breast cancer diagnostic tests developed by Myriad Genetics.

Supreme Court Hears Gene Patent Case; Activists Rally on Courthouse Stepsby Pete Shanks, Biopolitical TimesApril 18th, 2013The justices heard arguments in the Myriad gene patent case, and seemed critical of the patents but perhaps unwilling to make a broad ruling.

Can Human Genes Be Patented?by Eliot Marshall, ScienceApril 17th, 2013The question has been debated for years but not addressed directly by the U.S. Supreme Court—until this week. The decision, expected later this year and from which there is no appeal, could have an impact on hundreds of companies and thousands of researchers.

Panel Discusses the Legality of Patenting Human Genes [VIDEO][With CGS's Marcy Darnovsky] China Central TelevisionApril 16th, 2013Discussion of the Supreme Court hearing on human gene patents with intellectual property attorney Geoffrey Karny and CGS's Marcy Darnovsky, hosted by Mike Walter.

Supreme Court Critical of Patents on Human Genesby David G. Savage, Los Angeles TimesApril 15th, 2013The justices were highly skeptical of the idea that a company or a scientist can hold a patent on human genes and prevent others from testing or using them.

Who should own DNA? All of us[Op-Ed]by Marcy Darnovsky and Karuna Jaggar, Los Angeles TimesApril 12th, 2013You can't patent the sun; why should you be able to patent human genes?

Can We Patent Life?by Michael Specter, The New YorkerApril 2nd, 2013Jonas Salk would not be amused, but if the Supreme Court buys Myriad’s argument, the sun, along with the carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen contained within it, will indeed be up for grabs, and so will every gene in our bodies.

Not every woman should get the BRCA gene test, U.S. task force saysby Eryn Brown, Los Angeles TimesApril 1st, 2013Unless she has a family history that makes it likely she has the harmful mutations, a woman will be unlikely to benefit from testing BRCA-related.

You Don't "Own" Your Own Genes[Press release]Weill Cornell Medical CollegeMarch 25th, 2013Through more than 40,000 patents on DNA molecules, companies have essentially claimed the entire human genome for profit.

A Rally Against Human Gene Patents on the Supreme Court’s Stepsby Marcy Darnovsky, Biopolitical TimesMarch 19th, 2013Breast Cancer Action argues that when “a corporation controls human genes, corporate profits will always come before our health.”

BRCA1 gene patent ruling to be appealedby Amy Corderoy, The Age [Australia]March 4th, 2013The decision in Australia that private companies can control human genes will be appealed in the Federal Court.

What Is a Gene And How Does it Apply to the Law? The Supreme Court Still Doesn't Know.by Brian Resnick, National JournalMarch 2nd, 2013DNA was discovered 60 years ago this week, and since then it's been muddling up the legal system.

Eric Lander Weighs in on Gene Patenting Caseby Carolyn Y. Johnson, The Boston GlobeFebruary 26th, 2013A leading geneticist has filed an amicus brief arguing that Myriad has patented products of nature, which are ineligible for such protection.

Can They Patent Your Genes?by Daniel J. Kevles, The New York Review of BooksFebruary 25th, 2013This spring, the Supreme Court will hear a case that may well decide whether genes can be patented, and the consequences for American biomedicine could be huge.

Monsanto, the Court and the Seeds of Dissent[Op-Ed]by George Kimbrell and Debbie Barker, Los Angeles TimesFebruary 19th, 2013Should Monsanto, or any corporation, have rights to a self-replicating natural product? On Tuesday, the Supreme Court will decide.

Cancer Group Loses Federal Court Bid Against Human Gene Patentby Rick Morton, The AustralianFebruary 15th, 2013A cancer group fighting against the patenting of a human gene linked to breast and ovarian cancer has lost its landmark case in an Australian court.

Moore is LessWhy the Development of Pluripotent Stem Cells Might Lead Us to Rethink Differential Property Interests in Excised Human Cellsby Osagie K. Obasogie and Helen Theung, Stanford Technology Law ReviewJanuary 15th, 2013A proposal for addressing the profound legal issues raised by induced pluripotent stem cells.

UK Government's Enthusiasm for GM Not Matched in Developing Nationsby John Vidal, The Guardian January 4th, 2013Across the world, countries are turning their backs on GM crops; perhaps the coalition in the UK could learn something from them.

Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing: The Dollars are in the Database by Emily Stehr, Biopolitical TimesDecember 18th, 201223andMe raised $50 million and plans to use it to lower the cost of its spit kit to $99. CEO Anne Wojcicki hopes this will lead to a very valuable database of one million users' genetic information.

German Brüstle Decision Puts Spotlight on National Patent Guidelinesby Julian Hitchcock, BioNewsDecember 17th, 2012The German Federal High Court fully exploited a narrow sliver of discretion granted it by an EU ruling in order to allow a patent on Oliver Brüstle's precursor cells.

DeliriousMe: Ownership and Identity in An Age of Genomic Medicineby Patricia Williams, LOG: Journal of Architecture and UrbanismDecember 17th, 2012The question of who owns our bodies — in particular the genomic information that may be culled from routine human shedding — is a matter of evolving legal, social and ethical importance.

Genes, Patents, and Big Business: at 23andMe, are you the Customer or the Product?Ethical questions swirl as the personal genetics company starts scaling upby Adrianne Jeffries, The VergeDecember 12th, 201223andMe has raised $50 million from investors and decisively shifted its focus to building and monetizing a giant database of genetic information, rather than satisfying personal curiosity.

The Definitive Book on the Strange History of BiDilby Osagie Obasogie, Biopolitical TimesDecember 6th, 2012Jonathan Kahn's new Race In A Bottle is an extraordinary account of the birth, life, and death(?) of the first drug to receive FDA approval for a specific racial group.

U.S. Supreme Court to Decide if Human Genes Patentableby Jonathan Stempel, ReutersNovember 30th, 2012The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether human genes can be patented.

Myriad Updates: Clinical Data as Trade Secrets and a Pending Certiorari Decisionby Dan Vorhaus, Genomics Law ReportNovember 28th, 2012An update on the long-running litigation of Myriad Genetics.

E.U. Patents on Transgenic Chimps Challengedby Kai Kupferschmidt, Science InsiderNovember 13th, 2012Animal rights activists in Germany are contesting three patents on genetically engineered chimpanzees granted this year by the European Patent Office.

European Society of Human Genetics Reprimands Myriad Geneticsby Emily Stehr, Biopolitical TimesNovember 7th, 2012Myriad Genetics claims its research data is a trade secret as it pushes for a stronger presence in the European genetic testing market. Experts' responses reflect the ideological divide in the ongoing challenge to Myriad's BRCA gene patents.

Genetic Profiteering: Scandal of Firm 'Hiding Vital Breast Cancer Data' by Steve Connor, The IndependentNovember 1st, 2012Myriad Genetics is accused of deliberately withholding data that could help other scientists to understand cancer genetics, on the grounds that the information is commercially sensitive.

Patents for Genetically Engineered Chimps 'Perverse'by Daniel Mason, Public Service EuropeOctober 22nd, 2012A coalition of European public interest groups brands three patents for genetically engineered chimpanzees "perverse."

ACLU Asks Supreme Court to Rule on Gene Patentsby Emily Stehr, Biopolitical TimesOctober 3rd, 2012The ACLU has petitioned the Supreme Court for review of a Federal Circuit decision upholding patent eligibility of isolated DNA sequences.

Human Genes - Sold to the Highest Bidder?Federal Appeals Court Ruled that Myriad Can in Fact Patent Isolated Human Genes by Jessica Cussins, Biopolitical TimesAugust 23rd, 2012A U.S. federal appeals court has reaffirmed that gene patents are legal in its ruling last week that Myriad Genetics can keep its patent on the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.

Q & A on Myriad Decision: DNA Patent Upheld, Process Patent Notby Eryn Brown, Los Angeles TimesAugust 17th, 2012Can a company patent a gene? According to a new appeals court ruling, yes — even when that gene is an isolated version of a gene that occurs in nature.

Patients Seek Stem-Cell Compensationby David Cyranoski, Nature NewsJuly 6th, 2012Six patients in California are suing RNL Bio, one of the world’s largest stem-cell companies, for allegedly misleading them about the effectiveness of its stem-cell treatments.

How to Tell When A Drug Company Fibs About Clinical Trial Resultsby Adam Feuerstein, The StreetJuly 3rd, 2012Osiris Therapeutics "disappeared" important data when it announced results of a study of a stem cell therapy in heart attack patients.

Pride: In Your Genes? by Daniel Sharp, Biopolitical TimesJune 28th, 2012A new "gay gene" study and a strange float at the Pride Parade present a context to reflect on genetic determinism and the meaning of pride.

Informed Consent: A Broken Contractby Erika Check Hayden, Nature NewsJune 20th, 2012As large-scale genetic research has become faster and cheaper, more and more personal genetic data collected for one purpose ends up being used for another.

Gene Patent Case Ramps Upby Amy Maxmen, Nature News BlogJune 15th, 2012The ACLU has filed additional documents in its lawsuit challenging patents on DNA in preparation for a hearing next month by a federal appeals court.

How Our Genetic Maps Are Being Sold to the Highest Bidder by Patricia J. Williams, The Nation June 6th, 201223andMe's first patent forces the question, who owns our bodies?

Patenting and Personal Genomics: 23andMe Receives its First Patent, and Plenty of Questionsby Dan Vorhaus, Genomics Law ReportJune 1st, 2012The announcement appeared to catch more than a few of the company’s customers by surprise, sparking concern about the company’s intentions.

Personal-Genetics Company Patent Raises Hacklesby Monya Baker, Nature News BlogMay 31st, 2012The personal genetics company 23andMe announced its first patent filing yesterday. Clients expressed their concern and dismay on the company's website.

Rewritable Memory Encoded into DNAby Erika Check Hayden, NatureMay 21st, 2012Researchers in California have successfully encoded a type of rewritable memory into bacterial DNA. However, it took three years and over 750 attempts to do so, demonstrating the difficulty of coding apparently simple processes into DNA.

Appeals Court to Hear Gene-Patenting Case in Julyby Maggie Fox, National JournalApril 30th, 2012The next round of hearings for the Myriad gene patents case has been set for July 20th.

Prometheus: Bound. Myriad: Condemned?by Doug Pet and Daniel Sharp, Biopolitical TimesMarch 26th, 2012The Supreme Court has asked a lower court to reconsider its ruling in the Myriad Genetics gene patent case, in light of the High Court’s recent decision to invalidate Prometheus Laboratories’ patents.

UPDATE: US High Court Orders New Look At Myriad Gene Patentsby Brent Kendall, Wall Street JournalMarch 26th, 2012The Supreme Court declines to hear the Myriad gene patent case, and orders a lower court to review its decision in favor of Myriad.

Could SCOTUS Prometheus ruling be the end of human gene patents?by Terry Baynes, Thomason Reuters News & InsightsMarch 21st, 2012Advocates see the recent Supreme Court decision in the Prometheus case as a good omen for other cases challenging gene patents.

Collecting Stories about the Harms of Gene Patenting by Marcy DarnovskyFebruary 23rd, 2012The ACLU launches a public campaign education campaign about the consequences of gene patenting.

Patient Advocates Test Law on Human Gene Patents by Louise Hall, The Sydney Morning HeraldFebruary 21st, 2012A patient advocacy group has taken Myriad Genetics and its exclusive Australian licensee Genetic Technologies to court over a patent related to a human gene linked to breast and ovarian cancers.

Myriad Cert Petition Now Fully Briefed; Supreme Court May Decide by Feb. 20[Mentions Center for Genetics and Society]by Tony Dutra, Bloomberg BNAFebruary 2nd, 2012The lawsuit challenging the Myriad gene patents awaits a Supreme Court decision about whether it will accept the case for review.

Corporate Target of Gene Patent Lawsuit Acquires Another Geneby Emily Beitiks, Biopolitical TimesJanuary 26th, 2012While waiting for the Supreme Court to decide whether to pick up the lawsuit challenging Myriad Genetics’ patents, the company has acquired a patent on an additional “breast cancer gene.”

Myriad Genetics Acquires Patent on Another Breast Cancer-Linked Geneby Ayesha Ahmad, BioNewsJanuary 23rd, 2012Myriad's new acquisition comes as the US Supreme Court is deciding whether to hear a lawsuit challenging its existing patents on genes linked to breast cancer.

Can a Company Own Your Genes?by Azeen Ghorayshi, Mother JonesDecember 15th, 2011Last Wednesday, the American Civil Liberties Union petitioned the Supreme Court to rule on whether Myriad Genetics' patenting of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes is a sound legal practice.

Gene Patent Stoush Heads to US Courtby Karen Barlow, ABC News [Australia]December 8th, 2011The fight over human genes and whether they can be patented for medical research has gone to the US Supreme Court.

Biotech Industry Spent $2M on Lobbying in 3Qby Associated Press, Boston GlobeNovember 28th, 2011The Biotechnology Industry Organization spent almost $2 million in the third quarter as it lobbied Congress, the White House, and more than a dozen federal agencies on funding and patent laws.

Life, MonetizedDeadly Monopolies: The Shocking Corporate Takeover of Life Itself — And the Consequences for Your Health and Our Medical Future, by Harriet A. Washingtonby Osagie K. Obasagie, The American ProspectNovember 17th, 2011Harriet Washington's new book examines the ways in which the “medical-industrial complex” benefits research industries at the expense of both consumers and human research subjects.

Geron Quits the Embryonic Stem Cell Industryby Pete Shanks, Biopolitical TimesNovember 16th, 2011Geron has cancelled its clinical trial of a stem-cell treatment for spinal cord injuries, raising questions about the future of the company and the industry.

UK Supreme Court Upholds Gene Patentby Martin Turner, BioNewsNovember 14th, 2011In what appears to be the end of a long-running legal saga, the UK's Supreme Court found in favor of a patent for a gene and the protein sequence it encodes.

Oregon Health & Science University wins breakthrough stem-cell patent; ethics of cloning debatedby Nick Budnick, The OregonianNovember 2nd, 2011Over the long-term, observers say, it could lead to the genetic engineering of human beings. But OHSU's announcement yesterday focused on short-term health gains.

When Breast Cancer Tests Get It Wrongby Elizabeth Cohen, CNNOctober 27th, 2011Doctors and patients complain that Myriad labs is charging patients twice for a lifesaving breast cancer genetics test.

European Court of Justice: No Patents on Human Embryonic Stem Cells by Marcy Darnovsky, Biopolitical TimesOctober 27th, 2011Greenpeace applauds the decision for limiting commercialization of the human body; a stem cell patent holder warns of disaster; a patent lawyer says the ruling may in fact encourage research.

'Deadly Monopolies'? Patenting The Human Bodyby Fresh Air, NPROctober 24th, 2011In her new book Deadly Monopolies, Harriet Washington details how our tissues and genes are increasingly being patented by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.

Myriad’s Molecular Monopoly to Face the Nineby Doug Pet, Biopolitical TimesOctober 20th, 2011The American Civil Liberties Union and the Public Patent Foundation will petition the Supreme Court to rule on the legality of Myriad Genetics’ patents on cancer-related genes.

EU court: No patents for some stem cell techniquesby Maria Cheng, Bloomberg BusinessweekOctober 18th, 2011The European Union's top court ruled Tuesday that scientists cannot patent stem cell techniques that use human embryos.

ACLU, PUBPAT Seek to Challenge Patentability of Isolated Genes Before Supreme Courtby Turna Ray, GenomeWebOctober 12th, 2011The American Civil Liberties Union and the Public Patent Foundation have decided to ask the Supreme Court to take up their case challenging Myriad Genetics' patents on BRCA 1 & 2 genes.

New Patent Law Could Change How Academics Commercialize Discoveriesby David Malakoff, ScienceSeptember 9th, 2011The U.S. Senate voted 89-9 to approve the American Invents Act (H.R. 1249), ending a 6-year battle over how best to reform a patent system beset by increasing delays and costly litigation.

Despite Gene Patent Victory, Myriad Genetics Faces Challengesby Andrew Pollack, New York TimesAugust 24th, 2011Myriad Genetics' genetic test for breast cancer is technologically outmoded, incomplete and too costly.

NHS ignores gene patents, experts sayby Clive Cookson, Financial TimesAugust 5th, 2011Genetic testing laboratories in the National Health Service are deliberately ignoring most patents on DNA.

Race and bio-patents don't mixby Doug Pet, Biopolitical TimesAugust 3rd, 2011The Washington Post ran a piece drawing heavily on Jonathan Kahn's recent work, which examines how US patent procedure is forcing race into genetic and medical research.

The Myriad Breast Cancer Patent Case Continuesby Pete Shanks, Biopolitical TimesAugust 1st, 2011A federal appeals court mostly overturned the lower court ruling that invalidated Myriad's patents on breast cancer genes, but further appeals are expected.

Race reemerges in debate over ‘personalized medicine’by Rob Stein, Washington PostJuly 31st, 2011Federal examiners have rejected patents for genetic screening tests because the applicants did not explore their effectiveness for different races, adding to the debate about whether race has scientific validity in modern DNA-based medicine.

Ruling Upholds Gene Patent in Cancer Testby Andrew Pollack, New York TimesJuly 29th, 2011The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which specializes in patent cases, said that Myriad Genetics was entitled to patents on two human genes used to predict if women have an increased risk of getting breast and ovarian cancer.

Betting That Biotech Will Bring the FDA to Heel? Don’t Count On Itby Luke Timmerman, XconomyJune 30th, 2011Word is that BIO has been working behind the scenes on a series of pro-industry legislative proposals that take aim at the Food and Drug Administration, the agency with the power to make or break companies developing innovative new medical products.

A Near-Miss on Gene Patents in Congressby Doug Pet, Biopolitical TimesJune 23rd, 2011A House bill seeking to work around the harms of gene patents may inadvertently threaten ongoing efforts toward a ban, many advocacy and medical groups worry.

Is the Patent Office Forcing Race into Biotechnology Patents?by Jonathan Kahn, Biopolitical Times guest contributorJune 14th, 2011As we claim to be making progress toward a promised land of personalized medicine, group categories of race seem to be gaining salience in both law and science.

Doctor Abandons US Patent Application[Solomon Islands]Solomon Times April 11th, 2011The Network of the Indigenous Peoples-Solomons welcomes the abandonment of a US patent application that uses genetic samples from Solomon Islanders, in a case that raises major ethical questions.

Breast Cancer Gene Case Has Another Day in Court by Eric Hoffman and Jaydee Hanson, Biopolitical Times guest contributorsApril 7th, 2011A US appeals court hears arguments in a high-profile case challenging human gene patents.

More Arguing About Human Gene Patents in Courtby Doug Pet, Biopolitical TimesApril 7th, 2011A Federal Court of Appeals panel heard oral arguments in the Myriad case, but gave no hint of its decision; either way, many expect it to go to the Supreme Court.

Myriad gene patent appeal draws crowd, stirs judges by Matt Canham, The Salt Lake TribuneApril 5th, 2011The panel of judges for the Federal Circuit questioned attorneys before a few hundred spectators, which is an unusually long time for oral arguments and an unusually large crowd.

The Corrupting Influence of the Business of Biotechby Pete Shanks, Biopolitical TimesNovember 23rd, 2010Many scientists seem oblivious of the potential that industry funding offers for conflicts of interest.

New ETC Report on Synthetic Biology & the Global Biomass Grabby Pete Shanks, Biopolitical TimesNovember 3rd, 2010"The New Biomassters" considers the wider implications of the proposed new bioeconomy, which will exploit the people of the global South.

Gene Patent Ruling Raises Questions for Industryby Andrew Pollack, New York TimesNovember 1st, 2010Sharp reaction greeted the declaration that human and other genes are not patentable.

Reactions to US Government "Bombshell" against Gene Patents by Marcy Darnovsky, Biopolitical TimesNovember 1st, 2010The Department of Justice now says that genes are products of nature, not human-made inventions, and therefore cannot be patented.

U.S. Says Genes Should Not Be Eligible for Patentsby Andrew Pollack, New York Times October 29th, 2010The government suggested such a change would have limited impact on the biotechnology industry because man-made manipulations of DNA could still be patented.

Who owns your genes? In many cases, not you by Ginny Graves, MSNBCMany companies hold patents on patient's genes, affecting testing, cancer research.

NIH Ethics Advisory Committee Disbandedby Pete Shanks, Biopolitical TimesSeptember 30th, 2010The abrupt cancellation of the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health, and Society is a disquieting development.

Surrendering a Gene Patent: An International Twist in Myriad Debate by Dan Vorhaus and John Conley, Genomics Law ReportSeptember 29th, 2010In the U.S., Myriad continues to press its patent claims in court; but in Australia, the company has offered to "surrender ownership of its Australian breast cancer patent" to "the people of Australia." However, much about this remains unclear.

Of geese and genesby Jillian Theil, Biopolitical TimesSeptember 2nd, 2010The Financial Times publishes an argument for a "pre-competitive commons."

Patent Happeningsby Jillian Theil, Biopolitical TimesJuly 7th, 2010The pace of news on legal challenges to patents on human genes is quickening.

AMA meeting: Patents should not be issued for human genesby Victoria Stagg Elliott, amednews.comJune 28th, 2010The American Medical Association opposes the patenting of human genes and related naturally occurring mutations.

Human Genome Project leader warns against attempts to patent genesby Alok Jha, The Guardian (UK)June 24th, 2010John Sulston, who led the UK branch of the Human Genome Project, says patents on human genes would restrict access to treatments and inhibit research.

The case for and against the patenting of genesby Faye Flam, Philadelphia EnquirerJune 21st, 2010In 1998, Penn geneticists Arupa Ganguly and Haig Kazazian were ordered to stop offering women a test for genetic mutations that carry a dire risk of breast cancer.

Cancer gene patent faces legal challenge [Australia]AAPJune 8th, 2010Landmark legal action was launched against the owners of the patent over the genes associated with an increased risk of cancer.

Environmentalists Try to Ban Release of Synthetic Life Forms into The Wild [UK]by Steve Connor, The IndependentMay 24th, 2010Environmentalists last week sought to use the UN Convention on Biological Diversity to push for moratorium on release of synthetic life forms into the wild.

Stem cells, human genes, and patentsby Jesse Reynolds, Biopolitical TimesMay 14th, 2010A recent ruling on a stem cell patent is similar with concurrent challenges to patents on human genes related to breast cancer.

PTO Finds Stem Cell Patent Anticipated, Obvious in Light of 'Significant Guideposts'[Quotes CGS's Jesse Reynolds]by Tony Dutra and Joyce Cutler, The Bureau of National AffairsMay 12th, 2010The Patent and Trademark Office appeals board found that a patent on human embryonic stem cells was invalid as obvious at the time of invention.

Upholding of WARF stem cell patent reversedThe Business Journal of MilwaukeeMay 3rd, 2010The US Patent and Trademark Office agreed with public interest critics and will likely end a major human stem cell patent.

Mixed Messages on Gene Patentingby Anna Salleh, ABC (Australia)April 23rd, 2010The recent landmark US court ruling against gene patents has reignited debate on the issue in Australia just weeks before the expected release of a senate report.

How Gene Patents Harm Innovation[Commentary]by Matthew Herper, ForbesApril 9th, 2010Far from hurting biotech innovation, eliminating pure gene patents will greatly speed innovation in the biotech sector.

Genes belong to humanity[Editorial; Quotes CGS's Jesse Reynolds]Charlottesville Daily ProgressApril 6th, 2010Claiming exclusive domain over human genes is a troubling precedent. Genes come from our bodies and thus should belong to all of us

Gene Patents on CBS's "60 Minutes"by Jesse Reynolds, Biopolitical TimesApril 2nd, 2010This Sunday, the long-running American television news show will air a segment on the debate over human gene patents.

Gene-patenting issue not settled despite ruling[Quotes CGS's Jesse Reynolds]by Deborah L. Shelton, Chicago TribuneApril 1st, 2010A judge threw out patents on genes linked to breast and ovarian cancer, siding with scientists and health advocates who argue that a company cannot patent a product of nature.

Court Rules Isolated and Purified Breast Cancer Genes Unpatentable Under §101[Quotes CGS's Jesse Reynolds and Marcy Darnovsky]by Tony Dutra, The Bureau of National AffairsMarch 31st, 2010Isolated and purified DNA lacking “markedly different characteristics” from native DNA is not patentable, a US court ruled.

It Ain't 'Brave New World' Yet: Federal Court Strikes Down Human Gene Patents[Quotes CGS's Jesse Reynolds]by Peter Jamison, San Francisco WeeklyMarch 31st, 2010The Center for Genetics and Society is trumpeting a ruling from a New York-based federal court that squashed a biotech company's efforts to patent human genes.

Historic Gene Patent Ruling Provokes Cheers and Jeersby Pete Shanks, Biopolitical TimesMarch 31st, 2010A landmark court ruling that human genes cannot be patented provokes both praise and criticism.

Public Interest Group Praises Court Decision that Human Genes Cannot Be PatentedCenter for Genetics and Society Calls Ruling a Victory for Patients, Consumers and Responsible ResearchMarch 30th, 2010CGS welcomed yesterday's District Court decision invalidating patents on genes associated with breast and ovarian cancer, which ruled that human genes cannot be patented because they are products of nature

Judge Invalidates Human Gene Patent[Quotes CGS's Jesse Reynolds]by Marilynn Marchione, The Associated PressMarch 29th, 2010In a ruling with potentially far-reaching implications for the patenting of human genes, a judge on Monday struck down a company's patents on two genes linked to an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

Myriad breast cancer patent very broad, study findsby Maggie Fox, ReutersMarch 22nd, 2010Researchers say patent covers parts of most human genes

Myriad speaks out of both sides of its mouthby Jesse Reynolds, Biopolitical TimesMarch 8th, 2010In defending its patents on human genes, Myriad Genetics says that a ruling against it would mean everything, and mean nothing.

Immortal Cells and Persistent Controversiesby Marcy Darnovsky, Biopolitical TimesFebruary 24th, 2010The riveting stories in a new best-seller are relevant to the biopolitical controversies we face today.

Gene Patent Challenge Gets Support in the Pressby Jesse Reynolds, Biopolitical TimesFebruary 14th, 2010The lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of human gene patents received its first hearing, but the real developments occurred in the media.

Medical groups assail patenting of human genesby Elizabeth Weise, USA TodayFebruary 3rd, 2010Groups representing thousands of doctors, scientists and patients argued in court that no one should be able to patent human genes.

IP lawyers defend IPby Jesse Reynolds, Biopolitical TimesNovember 17th, 2009On human gene patents, intellectual property lawyers in Australia take a firm stance--apparently a stronger position than that of the biotech industry.

Lawsuit against gene patents can proceed: judgeby Edith Honan, ReutersNovember 2nd, 2009A lawsuit challenging patents on two human genes associated with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer can move forward, a U.S. federal judge ruled.

Battle Over Human Gene Patents Buildsby Marcy Darnovsky, Biopolitical TimesOctober 28th, 2009A key government committee, a progressive news show, and a federal judge are all reconsidering human gene patents.

Stakes rise in gene-patenting lawsuitby Tom Harvey, The Salt Lake City TribuneSeptember 29th, 2009A hearing is set to begin today in federal court in a lawsuit that poses a major challenge to the practice of granting patents on human genes.

CGS and other groups file brief in support of challenge to gene patentsby Jesse Reynolds, Biopolitical TimesSeptember 1st, 2009A number of social justice and women’s health organizations have filed a "friend of the court" brief in support of the ACLU / Public Patent Foundation lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of human gene patents.

Public interest groups support groundbreaking challenge to human gene patentsCenter for Genetics and Society, Pro-Choice Alliance for Responsible Research, other organizations file brief backing lawsuitSeptember 1st, 2009Public interest, social justice, and women’s health advocates filed a "friend of the court" brief in support of a groundbreaking lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union and Public Patent Foundation challenging the constitutionality of human gene patents.

ACLU Files Summary Judgment Motion Challenging Patents on Gene Sequencingby Tony Dutra, The Bureau of National AffairsAugust 28th, 2009The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation and the Public Patent Foundation filed a motion for summary judgment challenging the legality and constitutionality of patent claims directed to isolating and analyzing human gene sequences.

Gene Patent Lawsuit Draws Commentsby Marcy Darnovsky, Biopolitical TimesAugust 19th, 2009The legal challenge to gene patents is the impetus for a new article by CGS staffers Jesse Reynolds and Marcy Darnovsky.

The Battle to Patent Your Genes The Meaning of the Myriad Caseby Marcy Darnovsky and Jesse Reynolds, The American Interest (September - October 2009)A legal showdown looms over the patenting of human genes.

Senate push to ban gene patents [Australia]by Adam Cresswell, The AustralianAugust 1st, 2009A bid to halt the patenting of human genes will be launched before an Australian Senate committee next week.

The Gene Hunt: Should Finders Be Keepers?[Quotes CGS's Marcy Darnovsky]by Lynne Peeples, Scientific AmericanJuly 31st, 2009A lawsuit filed against Myriad Genetics questions the ethics of gene patents.

Academic urges ban on patenting of human genesby Danielle Cronin, Canberra TimesJuly 24th, 2009An Australian academic has called for a ban on gene patents, warning these can stifle research that may produce cures for deadly diseases.

University, Myriad seek dismissal of gene patent suitby Tom Harvey, Salt Lake City TribuneJuly 22nd, 2009The University of Utah and Myriad Genetics have asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit from gene research groups and others who are seeking to overturn the practice of granting patents on human genes.

Interview with "Body Shopping" authorby Marcy Darnovsky, Biopolitical TimesJune 26th, 2009RH Reality Check interviews British author and activist Donna Dickenson.

Patenting human genes thwarts research, scientists sayby Robert S. Boyd, McClatchy NewspapersJune 3rd, 2009Rapid advances in biology and genetics are raising fresh concerns about the spreading practice of patenting human genes.

The fight for our genes heads to court[Editorial; Cites CGS's Marcy Darnovsky]San Francisco ChronicleMay 23rd, 2009Human gene patents are crippling scientists and restricting patients

ACLU Lawsuit Says Gene Patents are Unconstitutionalby Marcy Darnovsky, Biopolitical TimesMay 13th, 2009A legal challenge that could change the shape of the biotechnology industry.

Statement of support for legal challenge against patents on breast cancer genesMay 12th, 2009CGS applauds the efforts of the ACLU and the Public Patent Foundation to challenge the patents that have been granted on breast cancer genes.

Cancer Patients Challenge the Patenting of a Geneby John Schwartz, New York TimesMay 12th, 2009Cancer patients, researchers, and public interest groups are challenging the decision to grant a patent on a gene related to breast cancer.

Pig Patents Provoke Protests in Germanyby Pete Shanks, Biopolitical TimesApril 24th, 2009A street protest outside the European Patent Office in Munich highlights concerns about the patenting of animals.

Pitt researcher again pursues cloning patentby Walter F. Roche Jr., Pittshburgh Tribune-ReviewApril 4th, 2009A Pittsburgh stem cell researcher has renewed his efforts to win a patent on cloning human embryos, despite lingering questions from his past efforts.

23andMe Gets Into the Breast Cancer Testing Businessby Osagie K. Obasogie, Biopolitical TimesFebruary 23rd, 2009Google-backed 23andMe, a leader in the recreational genetics sector, has added a new service: telling its customers whether they have a genetic variant that may significantly increase their chance of developing breast and ovarian cancer.

Africans’ DNA could be abusedby Bobby Jordan, The Times (South Africa)February 14th, 2009South African researchers and traditional leaders fear US scientists will soon start patenting the genes of local ethnic groups, many of whom have donated blood samples as part of a worldwide genome-mapping project.

Hwang to Back His Own Inventionsby Kim Tong-hyung, The Korea TimesJanuary 12th, 2009Getting a shot at redemption, Hwang's colleague at the Sooam Biotech Research Center confirmed that Seoul National University had handed over the intellectual property rights for Hwang's claimed inventions in human stem cell research to H-Bion.

SNU drops bid for stem cell patentby Ser Myo-ja, JoongAng DailyDecember 31st, 2008Seoul National University has decided to end efforts to obtain overseas patents for stem cell technology of disgraced scientist Hwang Woo-suk

European agency rules against stem cell patentsby Michael Kahn, ReutersNovember 27th, 2008European regulators ruled against allowing a patent on developing human embryonic stem cells.

House Panel Discusses International Limits On Gene Study to Prevent Competitive Abuse[Quotes CGS's Richard Hayes]The Bureau of National AffairsJune 21st, 2008An international consensus on this research and its application must be achieved, panelists told a House subcommittee on terrorism.

Letting Sleeping Dogs Lieby Jesse Reynolds, Biopolitical TimesJune 12th, 2008The leadership of the California stem cell research agency has commissioned a new economic report. Any realistic economic analysis may not be an effective shield in Sacramento during a period of drastic budget cuts, and by reviving past controversy, revisiting the economic argument may backfire.

Dog Cloning and Intellectual Propertyby Marcy Darnovsky and Jesse Reynolds, Biopolitical TimesJune 5th, 2008In the minor flurry of stories last month about an on-line auction of dog cloning services, the issue of intellectual property was completely overlooked. That’s too bad, since the cloning business, like so many others, is best understood by following the money.

Unseen Rise of ‘Body Shopping’by Donna Dickenson, The Sunday TimesApril 20th, 2008Good science can’t be rushed, and the commercialisation of biotechnology needs proper examination. The problem is that parliament is too busy arguing about God to pay much attention.

Another Bill to Reform the California Stem Cell Research Programby Jesse Reynolds, Biopolitical TimesMarch 4th, 2008For the fourth year in a row, the Democratic chair of the California Senate Health Committee, currently Sheila Kuehl, and her Republican colleague, George Runner, have introduced a bill to address some of the flaws in the California stem cell research program.

Elimination of conflicts of interest at stem cell institute target of billby Terri Somers, San Diego Union TribuneFebruary 23rd, 2008A bipartisan bill introduced in the state Senate yesterday would authorize California's Little Hoover Commission to investigate how the state stem cell institute's governance structure might be changed to eliminate inherent conflicts of interest.

Are male eggs and female sperm on the horizon?[Quotes CGS's Marcy Darnovsky]by Peter Aldhous, New ScientistFebruary 2nd, 2008In a handful of labs across the world, biologists are trying to make genetically male cells develop into eggs, and female cells into sperm.

Stem-cell Firms Resisting Cash LureInstitute Offers Grants with Strings Attachedby Steve Johnson, San Jose Mercury NewsDecember 20th, 2007Although companies now have a chance for the first time in the institute's three-year history to apply for its money, they may wind up having to share some of their revenue and research. And that is giving some companies second thoughts about participating.

ICOC OKs For-Profit IP, Revenue Policies Amid Probes of Alleged Conflict of Interest[Quotes CGS's Jesse Reynolds]by Joyce E. Cutler, The Bureau of National AffairsDecember 14th, 2007California's stem cell agency approved regulations covering intellectual property and revenue sharing requirements for commercial enterprises accepting state stem cell research money.

WARF and Thomson Go for Patents with New Stem Cell Developmentsby Jesse Reynolds, Biopolitical TimesNovember 20th, 2007The leader of one of the two teams behind today's big stem cell developments plans on filing a patent on the technique.

Google Wants to Track Your Medical History -- And Your Genomeby Jesse Reynolds, AlterNetSeptember 20th, 2007Are you ready to entrust this deeply personal information to a company that recently received a failing grade in privacy?

A State Bill Passes, a Federal One Stallsby Jesse Reynolds, Biopolitical TimesSeptember 14th, 2007A California bill that would require the labeling of meat or dairy produced from cloned animals has passed the state Legislature. Meanwhile, a federal bill to permit generic biotechnology medicines has stalled again.

Don't Bite the Hand that Feeds Youby Jesse Reynolds, Biopolitical TimesAugust 3rd, 2007Given the magnitude of Keirstead's promotional activities, his undisclosed personal financial interest, and his own statement of clinical trials "in about a year" back in 2002, his pronouncements on the timeline for embryonic stem cell trials should receive a great deal of skepticism.

Scientist seeks patent to life formby Kelly Patterson, CheckbiotechJune 12th, 2007A leading U.S. scientist has applied to patent the world's first man-made life form.

Gene Patent Billby Osagie K. Obasogie, Biopolitical TimesMay 18th, 2007The Genomic Research and Accessibility Act - aiming to curb the gold rush on patenting human genes - is making its way through Congress.

Federal Bill to Ban Patents on Human Genes IntroducedGenetic CrossroadsApril 30th, 2007The "Genomic Research and Accessibility Act" would prohibit future patents on human genes, a practice that has given "private corporations, universities, and even the federal government…a monopoly on significant sections of the human genome."

UK's HFEA Lowers the Bar, Againby Jesse Reynolds, Biopolitical TimesApril 30th, 2007The Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority - Britain's regulatory body for reproductive and genetic technologies - has just given the green light for IVF embryos to be screened for the "breast cancer genes." But besides this lowering of the bar in expanding PGD's use, this also highlights two roles played by government in promoting what some call a "new eugenics."

U.S. invalidates three human stem cell patentsby Karen Kaplan, Los Angeles TimesApril 4th, 2007The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has invalidated three broad patents for human embryonic stem cells that have been blamed for slowing research in the highly visible field of regenerative medicine.

CGS letter on California's SB771April 4th, 2007CGS supports, if amended, SB771. We are concerned that the bill as currently written does not go far enough to protect Californians from potentially unfair pricing practices.

Restrictive Stem Cell Patents Overturnedby Jesse Reynolds, Biopolitical TimesApril 4th, 2007The licensing arm of the University of Wisconsin has long been criticized for its patents in embryonic stem cell research. Earlier this week, a federal agency agreed with these sentiments, and invalidated its stem cell patents.

Genetic justice, industry styleby Marcy Darnovsky, Biopolitical TimesMarch 19th, 2007The issues raised by the intertwining of law and human biotechnologies are often technically and socially complex. What's a busy jurist to do?

Neurolawby Osagie K. Obasogie, Biopolitical TimesMarch 13th, 2007Should courts be in the business of deciding when to mitigate someone's criminal responsibility because his brain functions improperly, whether because of age, in-born defects or trauma?

Bill to End Human Gene Patents Introduced in HouseGenetic CrossroadsFebruary 28th, 2007Hoping to end patents on human genes and genetic material, Representatives Xavier Becerra (D-CA) and Dave Weldon (R-FL) have introduced HR 977, the Genomic Research and Accessibility Act.

Congressmen Introduce Bill to End Gene Patentsby Osagie K. Obasogie, Biopolitical TimesFebruary 28th, 2007Patenting genes has become a burgeoning biotech business model.

Public Interest Group Welcomes Bill to Ensure Stem Cell Institute’s PromisesFebruary 23rd, 2007Center for Genetics and Society says California agency must provide for affordable treatments and returns to the state

Patenting Lifeby Michael Crichton, New York TimesFebruary 13th, 2007YOU, or someone you love, may die because of a gene patent that should never have been granted in the first place. Sound far-fetched? Unfortunately, it’s only too real.

The Biotech Bubble: Why stem-cell research won't make states rich.by David Hamilton, SlateFebruary 6th, 2007As Congress hunts for ways to push its stem-cell bill past an expected veto, states are charging ahead on their own, but the economic rationale seems hopelessly optimistic.

A Penny on the Dollarby Chris Thompson, East Bay ExpressJanuary 24th, 2007"The more details emerge about Proposition 71, California's $3 billion stem-cell research project, the more it all looks like a big lie that will cost us billions of dollars more than we were told."

Stem Cell Reality Checkby Malcolm Maclachlan, Capitol WeeklyJanuary 23rd, 2007A University of California Berkeley economics professor has done an analysis of the financial returns likely to come to California from stem cell research--and he said they will likely be a small fraction of what proponents" say.

The Trouble with Tissuesby Jesse Reynolds, Biopolitical TimesNovember 30th, 2006It's not surprising that, according to a recent poll, people are concerned that personal tissue samples could be used for cloning, the derivation of stem cell lines, or the development profitable products without the donor sharing in the rewards.

Stem Cell Patents Come Under FireAssociated PressJuly 19th, 2006"A consumer group, a patent foundation and a stem cell scientist are challenging patents on human embryonic stem cells held by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation."

How a University's Patents May Limit Stem-Cell Researchby By ANTONIO REGALADO and DAVID P. HAMILTON, Wall Street JournalJuly 18th, 2006"But some government officials and scientists say the strict limits imposed by the Bush administration are only part of what's hindering stem-cell research. Another problem: several broad patents held by a University of Wisconsin foundation."

Panel scraps stem cell discovery-sharing ruleby Sandy Kleffman, Contra Costa TimesJuly 15th, 2006"A panel deciding what benefits California taxpayers will receive from their $3 billion investment in stem cell research agreed Friday to remove a discovery-sharing requirement that the biotech industry vigorously opposed."

Biotech execs: No sharing of stem-cell researchby Steve Johnson, San Jose Mercury NewsJune 30th, 2006"A proposal that would let the state share in any profits that result from its $3 billion stem-cell research grants and force researchers to freely disseminate their discoveries has riled biotech executives..."

Initiative's creator keeps tinkering: Senator, oversight panel often at oddsby Terri Somers, San Diego Union-TribuneJune 2nd, 2006This longer article examines Sen. Deborah Ortiz's support for Proposition 71, and her work to reform it since its passage.

Editorial: Cellular mutationSacramento BeeJune 2nd, 2006"In her latest effort to reform California's $3 billion stem cell research institute, state Sen. Deborah Ortiz, D-Sacramento, has introduced SB 401, a proposed ballot measure that seeks to close gaps in Proposition 71..."

Editorial: Legal delays may be a plus for state's stem-cell effortSan Jose Mercury NewsJune 1st, 2006"But the delay has had the side benefit of allowing the stem-cell agency to solidify its planning, structure and regulations."

Opinion: The legal lock on stem cellsby Jennifer Washburn, Los Angeles TimesApril 12th, 2006"CALIFORNIA'S $3-billion stem cell program has encountered repeated setbacks since it was approved by voters 17 months ago. Now it faces an entirely new and potentially even more worrisome challenge arising from two powerful patents..."

Opinion: Stem-cell grants ought to hinge on public benefitsby John Simpson, San Jose Mercury NewsApril 10th, 2006"Companies like Genentech act like committed socialists when it comes to taxpayers and the government bearing the risk of drug development. But they are greedy capitalists when it's time to parcel out the profits."

Out-of-State Facility Demands Part of Stem Cell Research Royaltiesby Lee Romney, Los Angeles TimesMarch 30th, 2006"[T]he University of Wisconsin foundation that claims broad patent rights to all embryonic stem cell lines in the U.S. has vowed to demand payments from California. That could spur a bitter court fight...."

Opinion: Taxpayers must benefit from stem-cell researchby John Simpson, San Francisco ChronicleMarch 27th, 2006"Prop. 71 promises public benefit, but whether that actually comes about will depend on the details of who controls the discoveries and how technologies and treatments developed from those discoveries are priced. "

'Research misbehavior'by Jamie Talan, NewsdayMarch 13th, 2006"While the recent scandal involving the now discredited research of South Korean scientist Hwang Woo-Suk was an extreme example, ethicists say less flagrant questionable behavior in the halls of science often goes undetected or ignored."

California stem cell program still missing the markGenetic CrossroadsFebruary 23rd, 2006

University tries to downplay US researcher's role in cloning fraudGenetic CrossroadsFebruary 23rd, 2006

Hwang to Sue U.S. Collaborator Over Stem Cell PatentChosun IlboFebruary 14th, 2006"Hwang_s lawyers asked Seoul National University, to which Hwang transferred his right to apply for stem-cell related patents, to return the right to the scientist."

Editorial: Stem cell institute responsive, to a pointSacramento BeeFebruary 14th, 2006"Clearly, the South Korean stem cell scandal, along with continuing political pressures in Sacramento, have had an impact on institute officials and their willingness to listen to the public's concerns."

State's stem cell institute adopts 2 ethics policiesby Terri Somers, San Diego Union-TribuneFebruary 11th, 2006"California's stem cell institute yesterday adopted two controversial but key policies that set ethical standards for research and establish a mechanism for taxpayers to recoup some of their $3 billion investment. "

U.S. Stem Cell Researcher Rebukedby Rick Weiss, Washington PostFebruary 11th, 2006"Investigators at the University of Pittsburgh have concluded that Pitt faculty member and stem cell researcher Gerald P. Schatten committed "research misbehavior" by seeking personal, professional and financial gains from research..."

Proposed Policies for the California Stem Cell Program Leave GapsFebruary 9th, 2006

Cloning 'pioneer' donated research funds to politiciansNewScientist.comFebruary 6th, 2006"Disgraced cloning expert Woo-Suk Hwang has admitted making donations to politicians using funds donated for his research, said South Korean state auditors on Monday."

Korea and beyond: Hwang faces criminal charges as the scandal widens to the United StatesGenetic CrossroadsJanuary 27th, 2006

Stem cell profit rules urgedSacramento BeeJanuary 24th, 2006"Biotech companies that commercialize taxpayer-funded stem cell research would have to plan to sell the drugs at the "lowest available U.S. commercial price" to low-income Californians, a task force recommended Monday..."

Watchdog suggests stem cell policies for stateSan Diego Union TribuneJanuary 23rd, 2006"A taxpayer watchdog group is expected to release a report today outlining how leaders of the state's $3 billion stem cell initiative could develop policies to make stem-cell-based therapies affordable and accessible to Californians."

Disgraced cloning pioneer could keep his patentsby Barry Fox, New ScientistJanuary 18th, 2006"A patent application, filed by disgraced stem cell scientist Woo Suk Hwang and colleagues and based on work now admitted to be fabricated, may nevertheless be granted, a New Scientist investigation has found."

Editorial: Promises to keepLos Angeles TimesJanuary 17th, 2006The LA Times, in a detailed editorial, issues a broad critique of the California stem cell research program and its authorizing law, Proposition 71.

Pitt biologist trying to patent human cloning processPittsburgh Tribune-ReviewJanuary 7th, 2006"A University of Pittsburgh researcher embroiled in an international cloning scandal is seeking to patent technology to create embryonic stem cells without crediting his now-estranged colleagues in South Korea, government documents show. "

Promises Made, but No Resultsby K. Lloyd Billingsley, LA Daily NewsDecember 18th, 2005Stem cell initiative delivers no results

Editorial: Science and DemocracySan Francisco ChronicleNovember 13th, 2005"Now that California taxpayers know that the $3 billion ($6 billion with debt service) that they voted in 2004 to spend on stem-cell research may possibly be an outright grant of money for research rather than an investment, does it make a difference?"

Opinion: Stem cell royalty promise just election ruse?by Stuart Leavenworth, Sacramento BeeNovember 7th, 2005Proposition 71 and CIRM chairman Robert Klein admits that he knew of the tax consequences of returns to the state during the campaign, but declines to say why he did not inform voters, in this column by Stuart Leavenworth.

Committees Hear Debate on IP, Royalties Under State's $3 Billion Stem Cell Initiative[Quotes CGS's Jesse Reynolds]by Joyce E. Cutler, The Bureau of National AffairsNovember 2nd, 2005Requiring royalties or returns to California on the voter-approved $3 billion stem cell research bond act was the topic of a joint hearing of several state legislative committees.

Debate grows over return from stem cell program [California]by Sandy Kleffman, Contra Costa TimesNovember 1st, 2005"During the campaign for California's $3 billion stem cell initiative, supporters predicted as much as $1 billion would be returned to state coffers through royalties from stem cell therapies. But now, some question whether the state will get a dime."

Testimony: Stem Cell Research and Intellectual PropertyCalifornia Legislature Joint Informational Hearing on Implementation of Proposition 71by Jesse Reynolds, Director of Project on Biotechnology Accountability, Center for Genetics and SocietyOctober 31st, 2005

Tax law casts doubt on stem cell royalties: State may not reap billions promised to voters last fallby Bernadette Tansey, San Francisco ChronicleOctober 25th, 2005Not only might the the billion dollars in potential royalties to California turn out to be difficult to obtain, but the Proposition 71 campaign knew of the difficulties in obtaining them during the campaign.

California Stem Cell Research Leader Misled VotersNews reports say that chair of new state agency was aware of the billion-dollar problem during the campaignOctober 25th, 2005

Stem-Cell WonderlandWill cures be affordable to all?by Ralph Brave, Sacramento News & ReviewOctober 20th, 2005Ralph Brave reviews the tensions between the realities and promises of stem cell research and California's Proposition 71. In a sidebar, he touches on the importance of intellectual property rights.

Human Gene Patents 'Surprisingly High,' A New Study ShowsWall Street JournalOctober 14th, 2005"At least 18.5% of human genes are covered by U.S. patents, say researchers who have produced the first comprehensive map of the patent landscape for the genome."

Opinion: State needs return on investment in stem-cell studiesby Jerry Flanagan and Deborah Burger, San Jose Mercury NewsOctober 11th, 2005Representatives of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights and the California Nurses Association argue that California should have a share of any profits from state funded stem cell research.

Editorial: Save the Stem CellsThe Daily CalifornianOctober 4th, 2005UC Berkeley's student newspaper: "[T]he state legislature may make a big mistake by adopting provisions of the 1980 Bayh-Dole Patent and Trademark Act.... But Bayh-Dole benefits industry more than it helps universities."

Who will benefit more, consumers or drug firms? [California]by Steve Johnson, San Jose Mercury NewsSeptember 29th, 2005A consumer watchdog group has revealed that 13 of the 16 institutions to receive the first round of grants from California's stem cell research program have ties to major biomedical companies.

Stem cell_s shell game?Capitol WeeklySeptember 22nd, 2005"The biggest question surrounding stem cell research in California right now isn_t whether it will eventually cure devastating health problems. It_s what happened to the billion dollars."

Stem cell research: cutting-edge science or corporate subsidies, courtesy of voters?[Quotes CGS's Marcy Darnovsky]Capitol WeeklySeptember 15th, 2005Malcolm Maclachlan of the Capitol Weekly reviews the public interest criticism of the CIRM, focusing on the intellectual property issues.

Stem cell grants, minus cash, on tapby Laura Mecoy, Sacramento BeeSeptember 8th, 2005The governing board of California's stem cell program plans to announce the recipients of its first round of grants tomorrow, even though there is no money to distribute.

Letter from CGS to the CIRM Independent Citizens Oversight Committeeby Jesse Reynolds and Marcy DarnovskySeptember 8th, 2005

Editorial: Stem cell funding is venture capitalSan Francisco ExaminerAugust 30th, 2005"Prop. 71's $3 billion in public money was not meant to be a gift. It was meant to be an investment made with the reasonable expectation that funds fronted to the industry now will yield some quantifiable dividend in the future."

Editorial: Stem cell propertySacramento BeeAugust 29th, 2005"California needs to have some measure of control over the intellectual property it has agreed to finance.... [balancing] the public interest with the realities that California is competing against other countries to advance stem cell research."

Report finds stem cell windfall assumptions unrealisticby Terri Somers, San Diego Union-TribuneAugust 25th, 2005"Expectations of huge financial and medical returns on California's $3 billion investment in stem cell research are unrealistic and based on overblown analysis, according to a study by a panel of research, business and academic professionals."

Stem Cell Intellectual Property Report Fails to Protect California's InterestCommittee does not include state or public interest, says the Center for Genetics and SocietyAugust 23rd, 2005

Editorial: Agency in denial - Stem cell board lacks money, not issues [California]Sacramento BeeAugust 13th, 2005The leadership of the California stem cell program should use the delay due to litigation "by settling issues that will continue to dog the institute over the next decade." Instead, it's promising grants before there's money, and signing no-bid contracts.

Onward, Christian LawyersSan Francisco WeeklyJuly 27th, 2005The lawsuits filed against California's stem cell institute by anti-abortion groups may be a blessing in disguise, forcing the institute to tackle basic organizational issues.

Taxpayers unlikely to get quick stem cell windfallby Terri Somers, San Diego Union-TribuneJuly 17th, 2005Although advertisements for California's Proposition 71 asserted that the $3 billion stem cell research would pay for itself partially through returns to the state, that scenario appears increasingly unlikely.

Editorial: Stem cell follies: Crank up the spin machineSacramento BeeJuly 17th, 2005"By letting contracts without bids, institute merely adds to its public relations woes"

Stem cell panel sets some rules; Regulations don't go as far as other state agenciesby Laura Mecoy, Sacramento BeeJuly 13th, 2005New rules at the California stem cell research institute concerning conflicts of interest, open meetings, and more "stop short of the requirements imposed by other state agencies, a decision that drew mixed reviews from critics."

Editorial: A miracle cure for stem cell conflictsSacramento BeeJuly 10th, 2005"Financial disclosure is already the norm in many academic and scientific arenas; why not here, too?"

Opinion: Oversight is critical for confidence in stem-cell researchby Kathay Feng, Steven Blackledge, San Francisco ChronicleJune 30th, 2005Representatives of Common Cause and CalPIRG urge the board of California's stem cell program to adopt the provisions of a proposed reform measure in the Senate.

Secrecy shrouds taxpayer-supported research [New Jersey]North Jersey Media GroupJune 19th, 2005Public and private interests are blurring in New Jersey's publicly funded stem cell research, but there is little transparency.

N.J.'s big-bucks experimentNorth Jersey Media GroupJune 19th, 2005"With little fanfare and no direct approval of the electorate, the state of New Jersey has spent hundreds of millions of dollars supporting the biotech industry."

Vote not likely on stem cell policiesby Kevin Yamamura, Sacramento BeeJune 16th, 2005The California Senate will request that state's stem cell research program strengthen its rules, instead of passing a constitutional amendement.

Editorial: Stem-cell sunshineSan Francisco ChronicleJune 13th, 2005The Chronicle's editorial page - which endorsed Proposition 71 - support's Sen. Deborah Ortiz's reform package for California's stem cell research institute.

Editorial: Maintain the pressureSacramento BeeJune 8th, 2005"California's Senate now has the choice of killing or saving a measure to provide some accountability over the state's $3 billion stem cell research institute."

State's stem cell board opposes proposal for increased oversightby Carl T. Hall, San Francisco ChronicleJune 7th, 2005"Directors of the California Proposition 71 stem cell program met with state lawmakers Monday in hopes of scuttling a proposal to put stem cells back in front of the California electorate as soon as November ..."

Stem cell issues near a boilby Laura Mecoy, Sacramento BeeJune 6th, 2005Laura Mecoy summarizes the challanges and issues facing California's new stem cell program: a lawsuit filed by conservative opponents, a reform proposal in the Senate, and "a controversial new way to finance the agency until the legal battles are over."

Editorial: No compromise on stem cell research conflictsSacramento BeeMay 29th, 2005The Sac Bee asserts that Sen. Deborah Ortiz "is giving up too much.... With $3 billion at stake and a chance to do this right, Ortiz and the Senate should put the public interest first."

Editorial: Stem cell compromiseSacramento BeeMay 26th, 2005The Sac Bee recommends specific policies for California's stem cell program to adopt in order to avert legislative intervention.

Editorial: Stem Cell Research AccountabilityLos Angeles TimesMay 26th, 2005The LA Times editorial board, which supported Proposition 71, backs the Ortiz-Runner reforms of California's stem cell research program.

Stem-cell oversight bill is criticizedby Steve Johnson, San Jose Mercury NewsMay 24th, 2005"The board overseeing California's new $3 billion stem-cell institute on Monday denounced a bill in the Legislature intended to strengthen state oversight of the program, claiming the measure would cripple its research and its ability to help the sick."

Editorial: Rogue operatorSacramento BeeMay 22nd, 2005The California stem cell research "institute's oversight board needs to demonstrate some oversight of Klein. They also should look for ways to compromise with Ortiz, so this institute can get on with the job of finding lifesaving therapies."

Stem-cell board too close to industry, critics worrySan Jose Mercury NewsMay 19th, 2005"California's new stem-cell institute is poised to begin spending $3 billion in public money for research, but watchdogs are worried about whether the board can distribute the money free of industry influence."

Opinion: Stem Cell Agency on Errant Fast Trackby Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles TimesMay 16th, 2005Times' columnist Michael Hiltzik writes that the "California Institute for Regenerative Medicine has behaved not like the state agency it is, but with the arrogance of a private corporation that happens to be playing with the taxpayers' cash."

Stem cell panel goes to work on fundingby Carl T. Hall, San Francisco ChronicleMay 10th, 2005"Short-term bonds to fill the gap until lawsuit is resolved" but critics warn that conflicts will arise if the leadership of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine solicit contributions.

Stem-cell research: After the gold rushby Peter Aldhous, NatureApril 7th, 2005"California's voters have authorized the spending of $3 billion over the next decade on stem-cell research. But will this bonanza bring threats as well as opportunities?"

Stem cell panel facing allegations of conflictby Terri Somers, San Diego Union-TribuneApril 7th, 2005"Conflict-of-interest allegations already are flying against the committee overseeing California's $3 billion stem cell initiative even though the group isn't close to giving out a dime."

Cell Out: Management issues plague distribution of $3 billion in state stem cell research fundsby Idan Ivri, Los Angeles City BeatMarch 24th, 2005California's Proposition 71 "has unleashed more competitive maneuvering than many anticipated, with signs that the state body created by the measure is now the personal fiefdom of the man behind the proposition, Robert Klein."

A mix of mice and menby Gregory M. Lamb, Christian Science MonitorMarch 17th, 2005"Injecting animals with human genes raises huge ethical questions - not to mention the 'yuck factor.'"

Senators launch campaign to amend stem cell programby Paul Elias, Associated PressMarch 16th, 2005Two state Senators have proposed a package to reform Proposition 71, including opening meetings of working groups, strong provisions against conflicts of interest, a moratorium on egg harvesting, and more.

U.S. Denies Patent for a Too-Human Hybridby Rick Weiss, Washington PostFebruary 13th, 2005The US Patent Office rejected a request by Stuart Newman and Jeremy Rifkin for a patent on a human-mouse hybrid.

Opinion: The opaque petri dishby Stuart Leavenworth, Sacramento BeeJanuary 9th, 2005"[ICOC Chair Robert] Klein and his supporters are offering a 'trust us' argument, which Californians may have trouble swallowing. Ratepayers heard the same thing when business leaders and state lawmakers deregulated electricity."

Stem cell meeting called a 'mystery': The state panel's agenda lacks details, critics sayby Laura Mecoy, Sacramento BeeJanuary 6th, 2005"[O]pen-government advocates and Proposition 71 opponents said the [California Institute for Regenerative Medicine's] board's agenda is too vague for the public or its own members to understand what will be considered today."

Public accountability is key to California's stem-cell researchby Deborah Ortiz, San Francisco ChronicleDecember 27th, 2004California state Senator Deborah Ortiz describes how her bill would reform the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.

Second-guessing Prop. 71by Tali Woodward and Laura M. Allen, San Francisco Bay GuardianDecember 22nd, 2004The weekly Bay Guardian takes on Sen. Ortiz, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the Los Angeles Times for not voicing their concerns over California's Proposition 71 before the election.

Editorial: Stem cell board must find way to hold open meetingsOakland TribuneDecember 21st, 2004The Oakland Tribune / ANG newspaper group editorializes that California's ICOC must work towards more openness and transparency.

Stem-cell battle looms: Strictures in Prop. 71 generate some concernby Daniel S. Levine, San Francisco Business TimesDecember 3rd, 2004When life-science executives gathered just days after the November election, the event felt at times like a victory lap for backers of California's $3 billion stem-cell measure. But if some back-patting was going on, the event was not without its more sobering moments.

California's New Stem-Cell Initiative Is Already Raising Concernsby John M. Broder, The New York TimesNovember 27th, 2004"As California moves to begin a lushly financed program of embryonic stem cell research, medical ethicists and other skeptics are concerned that the $3 billion that state voters approved for the endeavor could become a bonanza for private profiteers."

Experts discuss Prop. 71 ethicsby Lisa M. Krieger, San Jose Mercury NewsNovember 10th, 2004At a conference of the California Healthcare Institute, state Sen. Deborah Ortiz - a key supporter of California's Proposition 71 - said she will be monitoring its implementation for conflicts of interest and to ensure the state benefits from research.

Stem Cell Researchers Flock To CAby Paul Elias, Associated PressNovember 9th, 2004A 21st-century gold rush is on in California after the voters approved $3 billion for human embryonic stem cell research.

Stem Cell Firms Bet on Big Payoffby Denise Gellene, Los Angeles TimesNovember 7th, 2004"Some investors remain skeptical and cures for illnesses may be far off, but many in biotech see Prop. 71 as a boon."

The rush to researchby Mike Schwartz, The Press EnterpriseNovember 6th, 2004"The victory [of Prof. 71] spurred predictions that the law will woo the world's top talent in this new field and accelerate advances in treating such diseases.... Others, however, are not convinced."

Accountability part of stem-cell mixby Tim Simmers, Oakland TribuneNovember 4th, 2004"Proposition 71 is still fueling urgent calls for public accountability of the $300 million in annual stem-cell spendng over the next 10 years."

The End Runby William Dean Hinton, Silicon Valley/Santa Cruz MetroOctober 27th, 2004A coalition of South Bay activists stands poised to topple President Bush's go-slow stem cell policy

California: new leader in stem cells?by Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science MonitorOctober 25th, 2004"[T]he concerns [over California's Proposition 71] are broad, touching on issues as varied as fiscal responsibility and Christian morality, women's health and medical ethics. [It is a]udacious even by California's standards..."

California Voters to Decide on Stem Cell Propositionby Sean McCourt, SFSU XpressOctober 21st, 2004"Proposition 71... has been hailed by supporters as a way to possibly finding cures for many debilitating diseases, and assailed by opponents for its dependency on public financing and the way the research would be overseen."

Rivals charge Prop. 71 conflictby Laura Mecoy, Sacramento BeeOctober 20th, 2004"Stem cell initiative opponents on Tuesday demanded that the Proposition 71 campaign release the financial holdings of its supporters amid new reports that one of the measure's advocates could profit from the $3 billion bond measure."

Stem cell measure brings foes together[Quotes CGS's Richard Hayes]by Lisa M. Krieger, San Jose Mercury NewsOctober 20th, 2004A "respected group of liberals" are opposing California's Proposition 71, "concerned about the role of private biotech companies, the rights of women whose eggs would be harvested and the long-term consequences of manipulating life."

Prop. 71 a risky experiment in squandering public moniesby David Winickoff, San Francisco ChronicleOctober 17th, 2004David Winickoff, bioethics professor at UC Berkeley, asserts "A 'no' vote on Prop. 71 is not a vote against stem cell research. Rather, it represents a thoughtful position that we, the people of California, want more discussion and more accountability."

Foes: Profit drives stem cell measureby Laura Mecoy, Sacramento BeeOctober 16th, 2004"The campaign to create the nation's largest-ever state-funded scientific research program is finding its strongest financial support among the multimillionaire investors critics say could profit from the $3 billion bond measure for stem cell studies."

Cell divide[Quotes CGS's Richard Hayes]by Tali Woodward, San Francisco Bay GuardianSeptember 29th, 2004"Proponents of a state plan for stem-cell research would like you to believe only the religious right opposes it. But some of the strongest critics are hardly Christian conservatives."

Critics slate ethical leeway in California stem-cell proposalby Jonathan Knight, NatureSeptember 16th, 2004"Opponents of California's $3-billion plan to fund embryonic stem-cell research say that the proposal would give researchers carte blanche to rewrite well-established ethical guidelines to suit their needs."

Proponents of initiative to fund stem cell research pull in big moneyby Vincent J. Schodolski, Chicago TribuneSeptember 13th, 2004"Although polls show voters evenly divided, the battle over a California ballot initiative to create a taxpayer-funded institute for embryonic stem cell research would appear to be a lopsided affair, judging by official records of contributions."

California Debates Whether to Become Stem Cell Heavyweightby Gretchen Vogel, ScienceSeptember 10th, 2004"...some skeptics [of Proposition 71], including supporters of public funding for human ES cell research, say the plan is too expensive for a state facing multibillion-dollar budget deficits."

Benefits of Stem Cell Bond Issue in Questionby Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles TimesAugust 23rd, 2004

LEGISLATIVE BEATGenetic CrossroadsApril 9th, 2004

Gods and Monstersby Mark Dowie, Mother Jones (January/February 2004)December 31st, 2003Talking apes, flying pigs, superhumans with armadillo attributes, and other strange considerations of Dr. Stuart Newman's fight to patent a human/animal chimera

FEDERAL LEGISLATIONGenetic CrossroadsMay 9th, 2003

Averting the clone age [PDF]Prospects and perils of human developmental manipulationby Stuart Newman, Journal of Contemporary Health Law and PolicyNovember 30th, 2002

Ethical Concerns Block Patents of Useful Embryonic Advancesby Antonio Regelado and Meera Louis, The Wall Street JournalAugust 20th, 2001

Greenpeace Prevents Patents on Pig-Human EmbryosGenetic CrossroadsOctober 16th, 2000

Scientists, Activists, and Biotech Execs Debate Human Genetic Modification at State of the World ForumGenetic CrossroadsOctober 16th, 2000

Scientists Attempt to Patent "Designer Sperm"ReutersApril 13th, 1994