Re: Re: limits on copyright

>
>What I see in this very experienced point of view, is even more evidence
>that the copyright and patent laws are hindering the progress of science.
>withholding scientific publications for personal gains, especially, when
>being paid by a State University system or tax exempt organization or
>using its resources, or not reporting work supported by tax exempt grants
>delays the science work of many, many others around the world. Those
>delays are costing human lives.
>
>sterling

Indeed, the U.S. Federal Government in quite alive to this issue. See, e. g. , General Accounting Office report GAO-04-31, <www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-04-31>, November 2003, "Most Federal Agencies Need to Better Protect against Financial Conflicts of Interest," which, inter alia, points out at pages 1-2:

"The Bayh- Dole Act of 1980 has facilitated commercialization of university technology by giving universities, among others, the right to own their federally funded inventions and license them to businesses. As the importance of university research to technological innovation has increased, partnerships between universities and businesses have also grown, giving rise to concerns that financial conflicts of interest might restrict the dissemination of research results or bias the conduct or results of federally funded research. Industry groups and others have also expressed concerns about the need, in certain instances, for access to the scientific data that underlie the published results of federally funded research. In response, in November 1999, the Congress enacted a provision, commonly called the Shelby Amendment, requiring the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to amend Circular A-110 for universities, hospitals, and other nonprofit organizations. Under this amendment, federal agencies are directed to provide scientific data in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request if the published results of federally funded research are used in developing a federal agency action that has the force and effect of law."

  This Report resulted from a request by Senator Shelby and is addressed to him. The U.S. Congress will presumably will continue to legislate about these problems.

• Will --