Apple Patented by Microsoft 336
An anonymous reader writes "C|net is reporting that Microsoft received a patent on Tuesday for a new variety of apple tree. U.S. Plant Patent 14,757, granted to Robert Burchinal of East Wenatchee, Wash., and assigned to Microsoft, covers a new type of tree discovered in the early 1990s in the Wenatchee area, a major commercial apple-growing region. Dubbed the 'Burchinal Red Delicious,' the tree is notable for producing fruit that achieves a deep red color significantly earlier than other varieties. It is sold commercially as the 'Adams Apple.'" Apparently, the assignation of the patent to Microsoft was an error. Or so they would have us believe ...
It isn't even april.... (Score:5, Insightful)
Microserfs have a sense of humour too! (Score:5, Insightful)
Good for him/her, if you spend all your time scowling at Microsoft your face will freeze that way. Ya gotta smile from time to time. :)
Re:It isn't even april.... (Score:3, Insightful)
Well, if I seeded the hardiest of the tough corn with itself 500 times to create a new breed of tough, hardy, drought-proof corn, I would want to be able to patent it too. If I walked into the rainforest, picked a flower, and decided to patent it, that would be just wrong though.
Everything in moderation.
How the hell? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:It isn't even april.... (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:It isn't even april.... (Score:5, Insightful)
It says the tree was discovered. It's not a man made hybrid of any kind. He reproduced a genetic mutation. He didn't modify anything, and as such should not be issued a patent for the tree, as it is a discovery, and not an invention.
Genetic modifications can be patented, not genetics themselves, and certainly not something which existed in nature with no input from man.
You just can't patent something natural you just discovered... what's next? Patenting oxygen or water? What about the Do-Do bird? Maybe some crazy scientist manages to bring it back to life through cloning, should he receive a patent on the Do-Do bird? He didn't create it, he copied it.
The say the mistake was issuing the patent to Microsoft, not that it was issued in the first place.
Resist this patent madness (Score:4, Insightful)
This includes whole species, DNA strands, theoretical life forms, THE LOT.
Companies have NO RIGHT to be patenting life itself, which should be held sacred above all else, for philosophical, ecological and societal reasons.
THAT MEANS YOU, MONSANTO! [corporatewatch.org.uk]
Re:It isn't even april.... (Score:5, Insightful)
Apple varieties are often discovered, and occasionally developed. Red Delicious was found on some guy's farm in Iowa back around 1870... he made a mint selling cuttings. Braeburn was a chance find in New Zealand.
Congress obtains the power to establish patents via Artilce 1 Section 8: "[...] promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries [...]"
I think it's not clear. No one ever invented or authored any variety of apple, but it is a discovery with substantial economic value. The potential for a patent on apple varieties probably does promote the growing of test orchards to find new varieties, so that probably counts as promoting useful arts.
I don't much like the idea of patentable life, but I suppose it's within the power we grant to Congress.
I'm glad it's a patent and not a copyright, though.
Re:Coming really soon... (Score:1, Insightful)
Re:It isn't even april.... (Score:1, Insightful)
After all RESEARCH means SEARCH, and you can only search for and successfully find things that are already there, defined by natures laws. So basically all inventions are only discoveries...
prior art (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Resist this patent madness (Score:1, Insightful)
This plant was DISCOVERED not bred, nor was it genetically engineered. It's like someone patenting an element that they discovered.
Not everything that costs money to create/discover should have patent protection. It costs money to discover new stars and planets, can these people then patent the planets they find? If that sounds stupid, think about your argument.