EU Catches On: Drug Companies Abuse Patent System To Block Competition
from the well,-duh dept
I'm long overdue on some promised posts concerning the patent system and the harm it does for the healthcare field, but it's going to have to wait a little while longer. In the meantime, it's good to see that more people (including those in a position to do something about it) are noticing this as well. While we often feel that the EU goes overboard in declaring monopolies or anti-competitive behavior, it's finally realizing the one area where monopolies really do tend to be a problem: patents. The European Commission has released a report detailing how pharmaceutical companies regularly abuse the patent process for anti-competitive purposes, rather than to promote and ensure progress. It's unlikely that much will come of this now, but it's good to see people starting to recognize that the patent system can often be more of a problem than a solution.Filed Under: competition, eu, patents, pharmaceuticals
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vrobca
"To every action there is an equal and opposite reaction" I believe that was one of Newton's laws of physics. This current economic environment is the "reaction" to stupidity and greed. We can only hope that it does not end up in international distrust, tensions and war.
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Of course I could stop reading this silly blog, but occasionally one of the Mike Masnicks does have an actual point - shame we can't figure out which member of the team it is.
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Re:
You might try reading. The "we" referred to another post by another author on the site, which the rest of contributors agreed with. The "I" referred to me.
This isn't difficult. But I appreciate the condescending tone of your comment.
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How does an article about what happens in the EU turn into discussion of the US's problems?
As for the EU, where is the ourcry for lack of new drugs that are not available to EU citizens because their socialist government run healthcare system won't pay for it?
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