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Foundation Challenges Decision To Reject Stem Cell Patents
Patent Office Said It Would Throw Out Patents
UPDATED: 2:07 pm CDT May 31,
2007
MADISON, Wis. -- University of Wisconsin-Madison's patenting arm is challenging the federal government's rejection of its patents covering human embryonic stem cell research.The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) said that a preliminary decision from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is based on irrelevant previous patents and publications.The California-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights and others are challenging patents that cover discoveries by UW scientist Jamie Thomson. He was the first to grow and isolate human embryonic stem cells in 1998.The patent office said in April that it was preparing to throw out the patents because Thomson's discoveries were obvious given previous research by other scientists.But WARF said that that decision is flawed, noting that Thomson's work is widely recognized as a major breakthrough in the scientific community.
Previous Stories:
- April 3, 2007: Feds To Toss 3 UW Stem Cell Patents
- January 23, 2007: WARF Loosens Rules On Stem Cell Licensing
- July 26, 2006: WARF Director Says Institutes For Discovery Risky, But Worth The Gamble
- July 19, 2006: Group Wants To Revoke WARF's Stem Cell Patents
Copyright 2007 by Channel 3000. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
