Re: [Patents] Gregnews: US law proposal against cloning patents, USPTO proposals

[Gregory Aharonian <srctran@world.std.com>]

>Forgive my ignorance ... but how is the US Patent Office and cloning patents
>connected with the "war on terrorism"?

In the United States Congress, when new laws are being considered and voted
upon, people can add amendments (with the approval of others) to the new
law, where the amendment has nothing to do with the law - "riders".  It is
a great way for someone to seek some pork barrel dollars - "In this
discussion on a new law for painting firetrucks, I would like to add an
amendment on funding for a center for research at my state's university
for the development of flame retardant clothing for chickens".  Often
such amendments (and waste of money) get passed because of favor trading
and other political shenanigans.

Getting back to your question, Congress recently passed a new law dealing
with insurance terrorism (in light of 9/11).  During those discussions,
one Senator tried (unsuccessfully, thankfully) to inject some religion
into patent policy by offering an amendment to prohibit the PTO from
issuing patents on cloning humans.  

Out of curiousity, are the same games played when new laws are considered
by the European Parliament?

Greg Aharonian