:13:01
that eats up oil spills.
:13:02
They said they had modified
this microbe in the laboratory
:13:06
and therefore it
was an invention.
:13:07
The patent office and
the U. S. Government
:13:09
took a look at this
quote invention;
:13:12
they said no way.
:13:13
The patent statures dont
cover living things.
:13:16
This is not an invention.
:13:18
Turned down.
:13:19
Then General Electric and
Doctor Chakrabarty
:13:22
appealed to the U. S. Customs
Court of Appeal.
:13:24
And to everyones surprise
by a three to two decision
:13:27
they overrode
the patent office.
:13:33
They said this
microbe looks more
:13:35
like a detergent
or a reagent
:13:37
than a horse or a honeybee.
:13:39
I laugh because they didnt
understand basic biology;
:13:42
it looked like a
chemical to them.
:13:43
Had it had an antenna or
eyes or wings or legs
:13:47
it would never have crossed
their table and been patented.
:13:51
Then the patent
office appealed.
:13:53
And what the public
should realize now
:13:54
is the patent office
was very clear
:13:56
that you cant
patent life.
:13:59
My organization provided
the main amicus curiae brief
:14:03
if you allow the patent on
this microbe we argued
:14:06
it means that without any
congressional guidance
:14:09
or public discussion
:14:10
corporations will own
the blueprints of life.
:14:15
When they made the decision
we lost by five to four
:14:17
and Chief Justice
Warren said
:14:19
sure some of these
are big issues
:14:21
but we think this
is a small decision.
:14:23
Seven years later
the U. S. Patent office issued
:14:26
a one sentence decree
:14:28
you can patent anything
in the world thats alive
:14:30
except a full birth
human being.