this post was submitted on 27 Nov 2023
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Science Memes

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He did though. (mander.xyz)
submitted 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Venter?wprov=sfla1

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[–] [email protected] 184 points 11 months ago (3 children)

Nestlé has been patenting human milk proteins for decades. To my understanding, this prevents other companies to add such molecules to baby formula, even if somehow methods to synthesize said molecules were developed.

That is a scary notion, a malevolous intent and a gross outcome.

[–] ForgotAboutDre 70 points 11 months ago (1 children)

These shouldn't hold up. Wouldn't the prior work of thousands of generations of mothers invalidate such a patent.

[–] Darkard 111 points 11 months ago (3 children)

"Excuse me madam but do you have a license to use those tits? No? Didn't think so. The content of those bazongas is Nestle property. I'm afraid I'm going to have to clamp those nipples until such time as the proper Bandonkadonk subscriptions are paid"

[–] [email protected] 26 points 11 months ago (1 children)

i got this new legal drama plot. basically there's this patent infringer except she's got huge boobs. i mean some serious honkers. a real set of badonkers. packin some dobonhonkeros. massive dohoonkabhankoloos. big ol' tonhongerekoogers.

what happens next?!

lawyer shows up with even bigger bonkhonagahoogs. humongous hungolomghononoloughongous

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago

I read this story in Barney Stinson's voice.

[–] grue 17 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Have you considered a career in avian taxonomy?

[–] [email protected] 8 points 11 months ago

Who doesn't like the dickcissel or the tufted tit-mouse?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

As long as the tits aren't used for commercial purposes you don't need a license. Anyway, I doubt that in Europe you could patent any naturally occuring molecules in any kind of milk.

[–] AnUnusualRelic 6 points 11 months ago (1 children)

You can patent pretty much anything in Europe.

However, enforcing those patents is a completely different affair.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Maybe some countries' patent offices don't take their job serious, but in general there are loads of things you can patent. For example basically anything naturally occuring is not generally patentable, but you can patent methods for synthesising or extracting naturally occuring things.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Something doesn't add up here since you can't patent anything for decades.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 11 months ago

I read that as:

For decades, Nestle has been patenting milk proteins.

They've been doing it for a long time, not somehow getting extra-long patents.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Seems like I messed up carrying over thoughts over language barrier.

Where was I unclear?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago (2 children)

patents expire. so nestle shoudln't be able to "patenting human milk proteins for decades"

[–] [email protected] 7 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Patents can be renewed, to my knowledge, and "for decades" as in "since the 90s".

[–] [email protected] 7 points 11 months ago

Usually, patents have a lifetime for 20 years. Maybe you get an extension for 5 years. From were do you have the info that patents can be renewed?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 11 months ago

Patents can't be renewed. After expiring, they become public domain.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 11 months ago

For decades may as well be anything from 20 years up, afaik patents may live for 50 years so this seems to work fine

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago

Maybe there is an Oxford comma? I understood what you meant

[–] [email protected] 12 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Prior work exists, source: all of history lol

[–] [email protected] 4 points 11 months ago

Imagine Nestle executives finding a time machine and going to all of history's most famous persons' mothers and telling them how they can't breastfeed their kids.

Someone should definitely write a book about that