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Two Nobel Prize winners want to cancel their own CRISPR patents in Europe

(www.technologyreview.com)
167 points thisismytest | 2 comments | 17 Nov 24 03:03 UTC | HN request time: 0.4s | source
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ixaxaar ◴[17 Nov 24 04:45 UTC] No.42162021[source]▶
What a sad fucking world. I like what China does in the regard to patents. That is exactly what patents deserve.
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kergonath ◴[17 Nov 24 10:50 UTC] No.42163357[source]▶
It works when you are catching up. Japanese companies used the same strategy post-WWII. And a lot of other countries, Japan is just a striking example as it was so visible and quick. “Made in Japan” went from derogatory to a sign of quality in about a generation.

Surprisingly when you are in the lead and others have to catch up, IP protections sound much better.

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1. vasco ◴[17 Nov 24 11:14 UTC] No.42163473[source]▶
When you are in the lead anything that puts others down is good. That doesn't mean the system needs it to operate. Why would we need a system that protects the country in the lead?
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2. kergonath ◴[17 Nov 24 19:07 UTC] No.42166188[source]▶
I am not arguing about morality or justice. I am just saying that it is unlikely to happen, as the countries which value IP protection have the most to lose from abolishing it. The people in these countries might have different feelings but I don’t think this is going to be a deal breaker any time soon either way.

Personally, I won’t claim much because I haven’t done any survey. IP protection itself sounds reasonable, but guardrails are needed because the incentives to bullshit are quite strong.