Subject: Thoughts on patenting issues

Date: 13.02.2006

It’s really the first time I’m considering patenting, but many questions arise regarding the “Patenting in animal breeding and genetics” paper and the later contributions (Georgios Banos and Georgios Valergakis – 25 January; Max Rothschild - 30 January; Merida Roets – 31 January):

1-     The patent does not ensure economic returns.

2-     Patents may be related to immoral or unethical objectives (from the society’s point of view).

3-     Patenting for local adapted breeds in other places than those of origin.

4-     One out of 1000 patents produces considerable income.

5-     I think that patenting, specially by ”Trade Secret”, inhibits the progress of science.

6-     Scientists worry about biopiracy threats to their inventions.

7-     Animal welfare and animal genetic diversity must be taken into consideration.

So, I think that governments (especially in the developing countries) have to carry out economic studies, taking into consideration all the details in each patent application, and identify which ones have a real value and are suitable to implement in each country and which are not. The next step is to fund the patent (independently or with business people) and implement it in the context of a project. Basically, it must attract all specialists in the selected application aimed at ensuring the scientific progress and change along with new technology. There are also some benefits:

1-     Invite (by funding) to patent what is accepted my society and what has an economic return.

2-     The economic results of each project should encourage other invitations and so forth.

3-     Such projects will solve other problems, like unemployment and others.

These are my thoughts. If there is any misunderstanding or you think that any of my points are wrong, please let me know.

I would appreciate your reply to know your opinion about my thoughts.

Waeel El-Desokey

Scientific Computation and Agricultural Informatics Unit (SCAIU), 

Faculty of agriculture, Ain Shams University

Egypt

Other contributions of 13 February 2006