Patently-O Bits and Bytes No. 21

• Disclose Disclose Disclose: APJ Richard Lebovitz argues (on his own) that scientific researchers should be required to disclose potential patent rights prior to publication of related research as part of the conflict-of-interest review. [6 Nw. J. of Tech. & Intell. Prop. 36].  In his study of Science and Nature articles, Lebovitz found that “almost one-third” of the research articles were associated with one or more patent filings.
• Compulsory Licenses: Thailand plans to continue its plan of paying low compulsory license rates for patents covering important cancer drugs. In response, Novartis has proposed to offer Gleevec for free, but only to Thai patients that qualify as poor. [Noonan]
• More Like Property: A major point of the Bessen & Meurer book is that the patent system can be improved by making patents work more like property. Should we work toward a system where patent rights are more predictably valid; where patent scope is more easily discernable; and where fragmented ownership of overlapping patent rights does not block further development?
• Patent Reform: IPO reports that the “massive” Patent Reform Act of 2007 will likely receive senate floor attention in April or May.  According to the organization: “Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) appears intent on moving the bill ahead even though it is unclear whether enough Senators will support it to break holds placed on it by some Senators.  Claims made every day by lobbyists that Leahy has or does not have the 60 votes required to cut off debate and pass an amended bill are speculation, because the amendments are not known.  Pronouncements that the bill is dead this year are premature.”