Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

Another version of steps 3 and 4 is:

3. Discover that the same drug works for a different disease and patent the new application of the old drug.

4. Since the drug is still patented even after the original patent has expired, anyone making the drug still has to pay up even if they are selling it for the original, out of patent, use.



That's not true at all.

If you patent for disease A, then the patent expires, even if you patent for disease B, it doesn't stop anyone from making a generic version of your drug to treat disease A. Doctors will also prescribe that generic for disease B (there is nothing to stop them).


You are right. It seems the story I heard was an exaggeration of the bullying tactics a team of lawyers can perform.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: