Who Gets the Patents?

Commentary by William J. Federer

In July, 2006, the St. Louis Journalism Review noted that the major contributors promoting the cloning amendment “included William Danforth, Richard Mahoney and Jim and Virginia Stowers. The Stowers are the founders of the non-profit Stowers Institute for Medical Research in Kansas City.”

The St. Louis Business Journal reported June 23, 2006, the pro-cloning group “raising nearly $10 million…almost two-thirds came from Jim and Virginia Stowers, founders of the nonprofit Stowers Institue for Medical Research in Kansas City. Other donors include Danforth, chancellor emeritus of Washington University; Bachmann, a senior partner at Edward Jones; and Richard Mahoney, former chairman and chief executive of Monsanto Co.”

To date, the Stowers have reportedly contributed $15 million of the $16 million raised to promote Amendment 2.

The question has to be asked, why would individuals connected with research organizations such as the Stowers Institute, Washington University and Monsanto be putting so much money into this? Could it be that once the Amendment is passed, taxpayer money will most likely flow into their organizations?

Yet, the Amendment does not stipulate who will own the patents of the promised “cures” developed from the creation and destruction of human life.

Cloning is already legal in Missouri, so why is the Amendment needed?

Perhaps it is because all the cures from adult stem cell research, derived from placentas, bone marrow, and other sources, cannot be patented.
    Embryonic stems cell research, which would allow a human egg to be fertilized, grow for up to 14 days, then be destroyed for research, could be patented.

The carefully worded Amendment does not mention who will own the patents? Would it be the taxpayers of Missouri? Or would it be the research organizations doing the research?

Could it be that this Amendment is an elaborate way for research organizations to get taxpayer funding for something that would benefit them financially?

It would not be the first time big business got money from big government. A few years ago, the State of Oklahoma was duped into financing the privately owned Great Plains Airlines, which subsequently went bankrupt.

There are many cures derived from adult stem cells. These have attracted investment dollars, yet cannot be patented.

There have been no cures from embryonic stem cells, derived from the creation and destruction of human life, therefore these have not attracted investment dollars. But since they can be patented, Amendment 2 would provide a way for Missouri taxpayers to be manipulated into paying for it.

But the question remains, who would own the patents?

William J. Federer is a nationally acclaimed speaker and best-selling author on America's Godly heritage. To purchase books and other materials which he has written or to arrange a speaking engagement call 1-888-USA-WORD.