Human embryo-using invention refused EU patent on moral grounds (CNA)

[Catholic_Press]

Brussels, Dec 3, 2008 / 02:10 am (CNA).- Citing a patent convention which forbids patenting inventions which would be contrary to public order or morality, the European Union’s patent office has rejected a patent on the grounds that the application would involve the destruction of human embryos.http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/catholicnewsagency/dailynews/~4/473324755

Full article…

 

[bquinn]

First I have to pick my jaw up off the floor, then give Thanks to Our Almighty God!! This is the first good news regarding morality I have heard in the last couple of months. After thinking about this, it is great news, but I’m afraid it won’t stop experimentation in the least. You can’t have a patent on ‘living organisms’ because you are not the creator, so development is not completely yours… They may be able to get around this by obtaining a patent on the ‘method’ developed to create a specific ‘invention’.

I.e. patent on the method used to clone, but not on the cloned cell line itself. I wonder how this will affect those wanting to use ESC for medical research, if it puts doubt on whether they can patent the cell-lines themselves.