Copyrighting YOU

[Technosoul]

The medical industry (drug makers) have copyrighted the word "cure" and no one can use that word on any product without permission granted. For example the Herbal industry cannot use that word because of copyright laws.

Now the medical industry has the right to copyright the very genes they discover and each part of your DNA.

That has raised some interesting questions because that DNA could be "you" if you are ever treated by them.

Such copyright laws should protect individuals but now they often prevent a "free market" where compitition could keep costs down for the consumer.

So do you have any views concerning this from a political standpoint? I did not attach webpages so as not to influence your thoughts about this topic, at this early stage of the questioning.

And yet the medical industry also has the right to attack products as being the cause of cancer or whatever, just last night on the news they were saying that if you leave your lights on all the time that could cause cancer, so let's sue G.E. for not warning us. But don't worry, if you buy some of my grand papa's snake oil you can see in the dark.

Whatcha think?

Technosoul.

[tman_ndsu08]

I don't believe in copyrights because I don't believe in intellectual property.

The government, however, does and they have the money and the guns, so I guess they win for now.

[PatrickHenry]

What if I choose to reproduce the DNA in my body(that some corp holds the patent on)?
Like by having children?
How does the patent get enforced?
Involuntary sterilization?
The final solution?

It's tyranny...

[katar]

i am skeptical about the truth of this "story", if it can be called that, which is offered without details, documentation, or sources.

[Radioactive Man]

I smell urban legend.

[Scribbler1]

Tech, I know you said why you didn't include sources but I think you'd better come up with them ASAP. I for one want to see where you got this information, as MY information is that you CAN'T copyright an ancient word such as "cure" any more than you can copyright "tree" or "fabrication".

Your post becomes suspect with the very first words, as the "drug industry" can't copyright anything. If you had said Pfizer, or Merck had copyrighted something it might have made sense. A copyright must have an owner, and an "industry" i.e. a collection of similar corporate entities cannot by definition be the sole owner.

Sources, please.

[Compugasm]

Originally posted by Scribbler1, Your post becomes suspect with the very first words, as the "drug industry" can't copyright anything.

Exactly, that's why they come up with all those silly names like "Fanaflax AZX" cause they can't copywrite Benomonosodium Hydroginate. Likewise, they can't copywrite "cure". I've also noticed the've started saying "alleviate the symptoms" because alot of medications don't "cure" anything. They supress the problem, giving your natural immune system time to fight it.

[kharmajunkie]

Originally posted by tman_ndsu08, I don't believe in copyrights because I don't believe in intellectual property.

I don't believe you should be able to copyright a word but we should be able to protect what we write/create. As a comic/writer I do believe in intellectual property and would protect it by any means necessary; as you would your car or house.

[tman_ndsu08]

I think it's obvious that someone in your line of work would feel threatened if there wasn't copyright protection.

However, while I don't believe in it, I don't think it's even necessary.

Why? Reputation.

People understand who was first very well. Calling someone a hypocrite is a very negative insult in our culture and plagiarism often results in termination of employment or expulsion from school.

If you were the first person to come up with something and someone copies you word for word, people will realize that, they're not stupid.

OTOH, this other person might be able to provide a relatively common good/service to consumers for a cheaper price than your company can. In that case, it's just a little competition, which only makes quality go up and prices down.

[castille]

By legal definition, you cannot copyright dictionary words.

Additionally, the "medical industry" is not a company, so it can't copyright anything.


Its a fake story.

[Technosoul]

Originally posted by castille, By legal definition, you cannot copyright dictionary words. Additionally, the "medical industry" is not a company, so it can't copyright anything. Its a fake story.

Okay then, the medical industry (meaning all authorized drug companys), under their Surgon General (aka The Food and Drug Administration), have effected a law that they are the only ones who can use the word "cure" on a medical-related product (or service). They have "in effect" copyrighted the word such that no one else can use it. This was done to prevent door-to-door, town-to-town, venders from selling snake oil and other "cure-alls" that might not be properly tested, in other words, to shut out the quacks as well as anyone who is competing with the durg industry.

People selling Herbal products (in drug stores) cannot pretend to be selling medical cures. If you sell Fish Oil as a health food (because it contians Omega-3 fatty acids which is good for the heart and cardiovascular system) you must state "not intended to treat, cure, or prevent any disease" on the package. So only the government has the authority to evalualate if a product is a cure or a medical treatment, and likewise they determine if something is unhealthy or not. That way you will not eat fish or olive oil to prevent a heart attack but instead you will buy 10 expensive prescription drugs.

Only certian drug companies have the right to use the word treatment or cure via apporval of the Food & Drug Administration, such that the word cure is in effect copyrighted only for their useage to promote a product.

Technosoul.