CRISPR and intellectual property

In the context of a book review of Kevin Davies’ Editing Humanity, I write,

As I see it, the proper treatment of intellectual property should have three characteristics. First, it should encourage knowledge to be shared as soon as possible. Second, it should reward those who take risks and exert effort. Third, it should reward actual profitable uses of ideas, not just sketches of possibilities. These goals are in tension with one another.

3 thoughts on “CRISPR and intellectual property

  1. Please consider writing a review of “American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic.” My silly MAGA brain got the virus wrong and this leader got it right. The strange part is that if he gets booted, it won’t be because of nursing home deaths, but rather an inappropriate invitation for a game of strip poker.

    https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/american-crisis-andrew-cuomo/1137496252

    (sorry, never going to post a link to Amazon)

    • lmao – autographed copies are available for a slight premium. I’m definitely going with that the version.

  2. The current patent system has a useful property. Because a patent is only the legal right to prevent anyone else from practicing the invention, the patent office does not have to judge the worth of each invention. The patent office judges whether an invention is patentable according to legal rules; the market decides the value. If nobody wants to practice the invention, the patent is worthless (about 95% are). If lots of rich people desperately want to practice the invention, the patent is extremely valuable.

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