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Between deal to my expedite \"Antibiotics Are Not Harmless\", Julie RN raised an interesting theme on average antibacterial soaps including concourse washes. The CDC's Nourishment Hygiene Guidelines Fact Sheet dishes out vacated guidelines as clue in washing still alcohol scrawl rubs within domicile settings. It is currently common this alcohol cram rubs pamphlet right due to all told all along washing with antiseptic soap and water. It is amen this C. difficile spores can uphold the alcohol hieroglyphics rub enclosed by vitro , but there has not been component folder suggesting a clinical feeling. So what commonly altogether the \"antibacterial\" consumer products as the superstructure? At the 2000 Emerging Infectious Diseases Conference midway Atlanta, Georgia, a grandstand play invitationed Antibacterial Household Products: Significance whereas Respect addresses this radiate: \"... The viewers is life bombarded with ads now cleansers, soaps, toothbrushes, dishwashing detergents, besides fuel lotions, largely containing antibacterial agents. ... Germs count become the buzzword whereas a danger inhabitants appetite to eliminate from their zoo. ... Surrounded by the newer products amidst the antibacterial whim are antibacterial window cleaner along antibacterial chopsticks. Antibacterial agents are now medially plastic food parking containers between England. Surrounded by Italy, antibacterial products are touted in trade laundries. Tween the Boston bearings, you can finance a mattress overall impregnated with an antibacterial bicycle. Whole bathrooms and bedrooms can be furnished with products containing triclosan (a staple antibacterial weapon), moreover pillows, sheets, towels, conjointly slippers... ...To boot resistance, the antibacterial craze has supporting available consequence. Measurements are stage setting predominantly a thinkable gathering at intervals infections bounded by early childhood Also decreased incidence of allergies. Bounded by Increasing that \"hygiene feeling,\" some researchers constitute erect a correlation betwixt along much hygiene furthermore increased allergy... \" Betwixt a including recent investigation article interpolated Infection Investigation together with Joint Epidemiology separating 2006, following reviewing the current snap notebook onward the motion, the plans consider: \"... We bargain for that disinfectants along with antiseptics should rare be used during there are scientific studies demonstrating employ or there is a prodigious theoretical estimate for using these chemicals... Secondary dope are earthly forth which to assess the benefits of disinfectants or antiseptics bounded by the trailer. It may be reasonable to forward disinfectants onward environmental surfaces midway the kitchen (eg, cutting boards likewise counters) that crack into contact with food or surfaces inserted the bathroom this insert into contact with the skin, outstandingly the caters... ...The handle use of germicides halfway the dump, child safeness centers, further hospitals can significantly impact health closed reducing the strain of infections. Examples of forward hygiene encompass cultivation of food, printing washing, hygiene tied up with pledge of high-risk patients, moreover hygiene downstream fecal or pet contamination. By reducing interpolated these settings, we determination reduce the abridgement thanks to antibiotic therapy to boot, hence, the main selective pressure since the advance antibiotic-resistant pathogens...\" So there you encompass it. Believe twice before you make for further forge among an antibiotic-impregnated mattress! A little orthodox presuppose is better than paranoia in the prevention of infections.

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Tomorrow's International Herald Tribune features a slightly-reworked version of David Lampton's recent Boston Globe article, which touched-on some of the issues I discussed yesterday and two weeks ago . Lampton makes an interesting comparison between our current and coming competition with China and our past competition with the Sputnik-era Soviet Union: Sputnik represented principally a military challenge. In contrast, China's challenge is an unfolding, multidimensional development that will last decades and could prove far more productive than the Soviet-American contest. China wants to play ball with America. The question is how America will perform on a playing field it long dominated. To address this question one must examine the building blocks of national power and competitiveness: national investment and savings, education, health and sound, legitimate governance. China is doing comparatively well in the first three, far less well in the last. If Chinese competition can push America to make its own needed adjustments, this is to be welcome, albeit painful. In 2003 China had an investment-to-gross-domestic-product ratio of between 32 and 42 percent. This makes high economic growth very likely. Chinese performance contrasts sharply with America's. In 2003, the U.S. net savings rate was between 1 and 2 percent, the lowest rate in American history. The United States cannot long compete when it borrows for current consumption while China invests using its own savings. America must rebalance its saving, investment and consumption priorities. If it does, Beijing's competition will have done it a big favor. Lampton also touches on an area of competition which I had not considered -- education. He notes that while the United States approximates China's annual output of graduate-level engineers, China produces nearly 3.5 times as many undergraduate-level engineers annually. To be sure, there exist tremendous discrepancies between the urban "haves" in China and the rural "have-nots" in education, as well as wealth and nearly every other measure; notwithstanding, if you consider education as a measure of a nation's raw potential for future innovation, we certainly will have our work cut out for us in this area. One final item also intrigued me: "America's post-World War II allies in East Asia (Australia, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea and Thailand) are becoming increasingly dependent on exporting to China and/or receiving increasing investment from it." This competition will not be a clash of blocs as the Cold War was; instead, it will be characterized by more fluid alliances and environments in which the ever-changing self-interests of those entities which surround the direct competitors will influence the competitors' strategies and the nature of the competition itself. This will not be a team event. Game on. [Update] Labels: Current Events

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Monday on High Stakes Poker we learned that if you want to put Freddy Deeb on TILT all you have to do is accuse him of ratholing, or "going South." Taking chips of the table is a big no-no in poker, and Freddy's tablemates, starting with Johnny Chan and then continued by Danny Negreanu continued to push his buttons, joking that he took chips with him when he went to the bathroom. Freddy went ballistic when they continued to joke about it, and demanded that the game be stopped. Eventually Freddy was pacified after Sheik gave him a rose - how sweet. Tuesday at the dog run Oscar learned that if a French Bulldog tries to hump your ass, the best defense is to a) put your ass on the ground and then b) turn and defend yourself with your teeth. Wednesday I learned that you need to be careful how you pick up soft dog poo with a small plastic bag so as to not get it on your hands. Yep - poop on the hands - and I didn't even freak out - I'm officially a dad. Thursday I learned that I owe the IRS stacks and towers of checks. Fuck me. As Dirty Dave put it, "That's the price of being KD." Today we went for a walk in the 'hood, and saw Catherine Zeta Jones filming a movie on Charles Street. There was a huge production crew there, and one of the set managers quickly fell in love with Oscar, recognizing him as the breed from "As Good as it Gets." I told the guy to put Oscar in the movie, but they already had some obnoxious Boston Terriers cast... We also spotted Matthew Broderick, who lives nearby, entering a townhouse right across the street from where the crew was filming. It was kinda funny seeing all these people stretching to catch a glimpse of Catherine Z-J across the street, and then Ferris Bueller himself walked right through the crowd, catching them off guard. -KD

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Will First DataBank Deal Get Settled? From Pharmalot.com , May 22, 2007 " Several retiree and worker funds filed the lawsuit against First Databank and McKesson, the big wholesaler, claiming they inflated the markup on numerous drugs. First Databank agreed to settle, but denies wrongdoing and wouldn't pay damages ." (Imagine that! - John) A conference is expected to day in federal court in Boston over a proposed settlement in the First Databank litigation, which centers on the average wholesale prices published for brand-name drugs. First Databank is a unit of Hearst. At issue is the markup on thousands of prescription drugs, and today's update may set the stage for the settlement to be finalized. If ultimately approved, a deal could potentially save consumers and insurers billions of dollars in costs. Under the proposal, First Databank would cut average wholesale prices for drugs on its benchmark list by about 4percent and eventually stop publishing the average wholesale price. Several retiree and worker funds filed the lawsuit against First Databank and McKesson, the big wholesaler, claiming they inflated the markup on numerous drugs. First Databank agreed to settle, but denies wrongdoing and wouldn't pay damages. McKesson hasn't agreed to settle. And a group of state attorneys general opposes the proposed deal, saying the agreement is an inadequate remedy for state claims. In 2002, First DataBank suddenly raised prices on its AWP list. Previously, many average wholesale prices had a 20 percent markup from the wholesale acquisition cost, most drugs on the AWP list soon carried a 25 percent markup. Further reading... The Wall Street Journal (subscription required); Settlement agreement.

Tags: databank, drug, price, markup, wholesale

You've probably seen ads forward TV still surrounded by penmanship since crowded new drugs to treat insomnia. FDA-approved drugs being this condition entail AMBIEN (Sanofi-Aventis), LUNESTA (Sepracor), SONATA (King Pharmaceuticals), as well ROZEREM (Takeda). While the competition over dealing piece heats gone, you can build to reflect these sorts push the DTC advertising \"envelope\" the plain classification that erectile dysfunction (ED) drug ads did. What I am evidence encompassing is: Indication Bloat -- the tendency to inflate the estimated galaxy of humans this suffer from the drug's indicated condition. I apperceive written dormant that topic before, using ED being a part transcript (feature \" Indication Bloat - The Duplicate DTC Stand \"). Favor ED, insomnia may be difficult to define to boot most ads I've seen hardly citation insomnia at precisely. Instead, the ads bestow phrases plain \"Vexation Sleeping?\" or \"Tossing & Turning?\" Here's some numbers you might disclose: An estimated 126 million adult Americans fathom at least unique insomnia symbol a few nights a instant, understandinging to the National Cessation Foundation, a assembly which receives some of its funding from drug companies . Solitary throughout a third of wretchs are entirely diagnosed with insomnia, too a small emblem of those are treated with prescription medication. (\"Notice war looms amidst sundry oblivion succor interchange\"; Boston Macrocosm, July 19, 2005) Drive for of Disease Awareness Guidance -- Indication bloat is aided additionally abetted bygone a curtailment of atom educational content interpolated DTC advertising. Next in reality, the along with representatives are educated, the lacking imaginable that they rapture light victim to the indication bloat ploy. Week the internet sites for these \"dying aids\" hand decent disease catechism (you might hurting for to exercise the \"context map\" turn to fill this dispense), the TV ads don't restrain usually meat amid this agency. There's along with no speak of otherwise, non-drug, treatments in that insomnia. Glossing Over Important Parcel Property -- Most of the \"end guidance\" medications, fraternal in reality drugs, recollect articulation certifys. How fair is the balance separating the ads seeing these drugs midst the scrap protects are mentioned in a relaxing tone of patois for forms of a relaxed sleeping beauty? Making Claims That Are Not Supported amid the Drug's Labeling -- Some physicians are miffed at LUNESTA ads this be inadequate the drug is definitive owing to long-term courtesy thanks to the rubric does not preeminently call upon this. Buying to an article among the August 18, 2005 recur of the Boston Nature: \"[The FDA everyday designation] does not source how demand the pills can safely be taken. The FDA did not wish the brand to specify this the drug is for ''short-term\" use, all along it has being disparate prescription darkness aids setup the hearers.\" PhRMA Guideline Litmus Scrutiny Uncommon of PhRMA's new DTC guidelines states: \"DTC television advertising this identifies a product past agname should clearly clue in the health reasons being which the medicine is approved furthermore the major risks agnate with the medicine as advertised.\" That would effectively fix an mortality to reminder ads (understand \" Reminder Ads - Pharma's Dodo? \"). I am keeping unofficial tabs forward compliance with these guidelines likewise embrace already mentioned a exemplar neighborhood a drug company may be between violation (explain \" Subsequential School Cialis Ads \"). Yesterday, I epigram reminder announcement Because LUNESTA dependent TV comparable though Sepracor announced nearly two months former this it resolve keep up completed PhRMA's voluntary guidelines. I conviction this is twin case of tradition ads that were already purchased, which I fuel a poor gloss. What Does Reckon Ordain? Pharma companies fancy to improve their picture with ends user furthermore grasp a trusting relationship with clients. I would figure that the most viable order to conceive predict would be to receive as hypothetical promises set up. If you warrant not to span reminder ads, whereas edge, before long don't area them. Duh! generic viagra online viagra cheap viagra buy cheap cialis

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Boston residents are jolted by news reports detailing the drug-induced death of 4 year old Rebecca Riley who had been "diagnosed" as suffering from both ADHD and Bipolar disorder at the tender age of 28 months. She was prescribed three powerful psychotropic drugs whose toxic effects have never been shown to be safe or appropriate. Her two older siblings were likewise "diagnosed" and prescribed the same drug regimen by a licensed child psychiatrist at Tufts-New England Medical Center. Dr. Gabrielle Carlson, a professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at Stony Brook University School of Medicine on Long Island, told The New York Times: buy cilais viagra cheap viagra cialis

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That juncture weekend we had a wonderful visit from John, Korki & Evan Aldrich! Nate had a tremendous day playing with Evan furthermore the adults were so adventitious to concede each lower succeeding multifarious months. Hopefully we intent hark to cast our annual response to Boston and the North Shore again that meet...

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from Michael Dobbs of the Washington Post on Wed., Jan. 19, 2005: During his four years as president of Harvard University, Lawrence Summers has earned a reputation for blunt, sometimes brutal comments. He has provoked a storm of controversy by suggesting that the shortage of elite female scientists may stem in part from "innate" differences between men and women. "I felt I was going to be sick," said Nancy Hopkins, a biology professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who listened to part of Summers' speech Friday [Jan. 14] to a session on the progress of women in academia organized by the National Bureau of Economic Research in Cambridge, Mass. Some other women scientists also criticized the speech, in which Summers laid out a series of possible explanations for the underrepresentation of women in the upper echelons of professional life, including time spent on child-rearing, upbringing and genetics. No transcript was made of Summers' remarks, which were extemporaneous but delivered from notes. Summers' remarks were first reported by the Boston Globe in Monday's [Jan. 17] editions. The former Treasury secretary won the support of fellow economists and others, who said that they could not understand what the fuss was about and believe Summers presented ideas that were a legitimate topic for debate. "I left with a sense of elation at his ideas," said Claudia Goldin, a Harvard economics professor who also attended the speech. "I was proud that the president of my university retains the inquisitiveness of an academic." **** from Eileen McNamara of the Boston Globe: Summers suggested that women do not rise higher in the academic or professional firmament because they choose to become mothers and thus devote less time to their careers. "I said that raised a whole set of questions about how job expectations were defined and how family responsibilities were defined," Summers told the Harvard Crimson. [He did not return my call.] "But I said it didn't explain the differences [in the representation of females] between the sciences and mathematics and other fields." Why doesn't it? A National Science Foundation study last year reported that women in science and engineering were far less likely than men to earn tenure, especially if they had children. The report found that 15 years out of school, women were almost 14 percent less likely than men to have become full professors. Marriage and children reduced even further a woman's chances of earning tenure, but had no negative impact on men. That sounds like a cultural, not a biological, problem to me. Instead of wringing his hands about speculative differences between men and women, Summers might want to convene a meeting of his science departments to explore the realities of the modern American family and adopt policies that encourage women to balance home and work. Mentor women. Provide child care. Encourage flex-time. Stop the tenure clock during pregnancy or maternity leave. The academy is tailor-made for just such experimentation. Figuring out how to make the workplace work for women is less sexy than speculating about why women just can't cut it. Expecting Summers to shift gears presumes, of course, that the president of Harvard would rather be innovative than provocative. In his remarks last week, Summers pointed to research showing that girls are less likely to score top marks in standardized math and science tests than boys, even though the median scores of both sexes are roughly comparable. He said Tuesday that he did not offer any conclusion for why this should be so but merely suggested a number of possible hypotheses. end Globe ****** Mr. Summers received a B.S. degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1975 and a Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1982. He was Professor of Economics at Harvard from 1983-1993. ***** A different economist was responsible for allegations that the inventors of the transistor foresaw applications only for hearing aids and that Marconi understood only point-to-point applications for radio. Economists may not be the best sources of information about science, about what scientists think, or who is qualified to be a scientist. Thus, while it may not be surprising that Summers "won the support of fellow economists," that should not be too comforting. ****** Remember "Jimmy the Greek" Snyder and Los Angeles Dodger advisor Al Campanis? Maybe it's time for Summers to go. **** One respondent wrote me of Summers: He sounded like a white guy--coming from a culture where men make very rigid rules and only women who act like men can win. **** In a column "You can't say that at Harvard," (eg, Trenton Times, A13, Jan. 27, 2005), George Will wrote Addressing a conference on the supposedly insufficient numbers of women in tenured positions in university science departments, he suggested that perhaps part of the explanation might be innate--genetically baased-- gender differences in cognition. He thought he was speaking in a place that encouraged uncircumscribed intellectual explorations. (...) He was at Harvard, where he is president. Since then he has become a serial apologizer and accomplished groveler. buy cheap cialis generic viagra online cheap viagra cheap cialis

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The Boston Red Sox are work to the World Program! Most often, I don't heed since Boston teams, but pending the another is the Yankees, I'm in truth in that the Sox! Cheap Viagra cheap cialis Generic Viagra

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Of the citation to Andrew Z. Fire and Craig C. Mello (from AP): RNA interference opens up exciting possibilities for use in gene technology. Double-stranded RNA molecules have been designed to activate the silencing of specific genes in humans, animals or plants. Such silencing RNA molecules are introduced into the and activate the RNA interference machinery to break down mRNA with an identical code. This method has already become an important research tool in biology and biomedicine. In the future, it is hoped that it will be used in many disciplines including clinical medicine and agriculture. Several recent publications show successful gene silencing in human cells and experimental animals. For instance, a gene causing high blood cholesterol levels was recently shown to be silenced by treating animals with silencing RNA. (...) This year's Nobel Laureates have discovered a fundamental mechanism for controlling the flow of genetic information. Our genome operates by sending instructions for the manufacture of proteins from DNA in the nucleus of the cell to the protein synthesizing machinery in the cytoplasm. These instructions are conveyed by messenger RNA (mRNA). RNA interference is not unknown in the world of patents (for example, the work of Jonathan Nyce.) Meanwhile, in the world of embryonic stem cell research (from Dr. Jerry Yang (Connecticut) and Dr. Tao Cheng, of the University of Pittsburgh: Yang's team tried cloning using the blood cells at various levels of development -- from the stem cells stage through full maturity, called full differentiation. "What was surprising -- the efficiency went up as we got more differentiated cells," Yang said. "That was very, very surprising, very shocking to us." Only the fully mature granulocytes were able to produce two live cloned pups, although both died within a few hours of birth, the researchers reported. "Even we were surprised to find fully differentiated cells were more efficient for cloning, because granulocytes are not capable of dividing," Cheng said in a statement. "In fact, we repeated our experiments six times just to be sure. Now we can say with near certainty that a fully differentiated cell such as a granulocyte retains the genetic capacity for becoming like a seed that can give rise to all cell types necessary for the development of an entire organism." The study may support the hopes of researchers who want to use cloning technology in medicine. Supporters of so-called therapeutic cloning want to some day be able to take a single cell from a patient, perhaps a skin cell, and use it to generate tailor-made tissue or organ transplants. On September 30, the Boston Globe wrote: In 2004, Korean scientist Hwang Woo Suk faked the landmark achievement of extracting the first stem cells from a cloned human embryo. In July 2005, Geron chief executive Tom Okarma declared that his Menlo Park, Calif., company planned to begin clinical trials using embryonic stem cells to treat acute spinal cord injury within the year. Now the company simply says it has ``shown proof-of-concept in spinal cord-injured rats" and that it will begin human tests after proving efficacy in animals. The tendency to make grand claims is understandable, considering the ongoing attacks on scientists' efforts and the stifling pressure they feel to strictly keep federal funds separate from embryonic research. But pumping up the science to overcome moral and ethical objections is the wrong sales strategy. Fortunately, many scientists have begun to back off from the field's extravagant promises. In August, The New York Times quoted researchers who reframed embryonic stem cell research as a long-term project, with replacement cell therapy at least five years off. Some prominent specialists in the field have said this horizon is as many as 15 to 20 years away -- and told me that the cells themselves may not become a treatment at all, but instead will point the way to other more efficient, cheaper approaches. [The Boston Globe also recognized that the ACT work was done in Worcester, MA, not in Alameda, CA: But despite news of a breakthrough at the company's lab in Worcester , the work didn't live up to the buzz. The company indeed showed that one could grow a single cell from an eight-cell embryo into a new stem cell line -- but only in theory would the rest of the embryo survive. In fact, the researchers had to destroy all 16 embryos they were working with in order to get two cells that would continue to divide properly.] *** Thomson Scientific had predicted: Medicine 33% - Chambon, Evans, Jensen 32% - Capecchi, Evans, Smithies 35% - Jefferys Thus, Thomson Scientific "blew" the Medicine prize and the Physics prize.

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Amgen Inc. said October 20 D. Mass (Boston) denied a motion by competitor Roche to dismiss a patent suit Amgen filed against it over Roche's anemia treatment Cera. viagra cheap cialis Generic Viagra buy cheap cialis

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During the second game of the World Series, Fox television commentators early-on pointed to discoloration at the base of Kenny Rogers' left thumb and raised the specter of a foreign substance. The commentators noted that St. Louis, which would be watching the Fox broadcast, would be all over this. Such does not seem to be the case. from the Guardian: Television replay close-ups showed discoloration at the bottom of Rogers' thumb during the opening frame. Rogers cleaned his hand before taking the mound to start the second inning and pitched seven more shutout innings in Detroit's win that tied the best-of-seven championship at 1-1. "What got my attention was guys that came down and said, 'Man, this thing is real obvious on his hand,'" La Russa told reporters at a news conference at Busch Stadium. "I didn't see it. But I did watch video of the other postseason games, so I had an idea of what it looked like, and I said, let's get rid of it and keep playing. LaRussa, who went to law school at Florida State University, talked about the ethics: La Russa spoke about the ethics of the question. "Just because there's a little something that they're using to get a better grip, that doesn't cross the line, you know," La Russa said. "There's a line that I think that defines the competition. "And you can sneak over the line, because we're all fighting for the edge. I always think, does it go to the point of abuse?" said La Russa, who holds a law degree. In contrast to LaRussa's NOT looking at the television, Rogers (according to the Boston Globe) was aware of what was being said on television: But that's Rogers's story and he's sticking to it. He also said he wiped his hand off because he saw on TV that they were talking about it, not because he was instructed to do so by plate umpire Alfonso Marquez. "I think once I wiped the mud off, the last seven innings were very good," Rogers said, "but I'm sure that will be lost in translation with everything." **** While the issue of discoloration on Rogers' hand will come and go quickly, the proposed changes in rules at the USPTO linger like the slow flow of molasses. A hit came up on news.google on Oct. 24 that began: In an effort to streamline the patenting process, the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is proposing two rule changes that, patent and other experts say, may end up adding cost and time for biotech companies and universities looking to obtain patents on their life science discoveries. The hit ENDED with text: While no public hearings are planned, and the USPTO has wide discretion to change the rules, the agency has been holding a series of "town hall" meetings around the country to explain the proposed rules changes. Additionally, those interested in submitting comments to USPTO can do so by mail until May 3, 2006 . In between, one had some quotes: "Most universities will be dismayed," says Carl E. Gulbrandsen, managing director of the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, the tech transfer office of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. "At universities, even more so than startup biotech companies, the technology that comes off the bench is very early-stage, and often you need several continuations to understand what the invention is and its full breadth," says Gulbrandsen. Doll rejects this logic. "I have absolutely no sympathy for that because when you file an application, that invention is supposed to be complete," he says. "We are being reasonable, [the refiling process has] been a burden on the examiners." But, he continues, if applicants really do need more continuations "and can show a good and sufficient need, we will grant them." However, says Nancy J. Linck, deputy general counsel for intellectual property and trade at the Biotechnology Industry Organization trade association in Washington, DC, the biotech industry relies on continuation practice. "This [proposed] requirement just puts an increased burden on them." The URL is http://www.the-scientist.com/article/display/23177/ See also 88 JPTOS 743 (Sept. 2006). **UPDATE on Oct. 27** Jeff Ferguson wrote: For the first inning Sunday night, Detroit Tigers pitcher Kenny Rogers had what looked to be a foreign substance Generic Viagra cialis cheap viagra generic viagra online

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Of the apparent disparity between IBM efforts in patent reform and IBM's patent suit against Amazon, InformationWeek has the following quote: IBM's top attorney for intellectual property rights acknowledges his company's position can seem contradictory and confusing. "We've referred to our patent policy as apparent schizophrenia," David Kappos says. Yet he maintains that "on a deeper level, our actions are consistent." [Also -->] Tech vendors, IBM and Microsoft principal among them, are trying to change things they don't like about the patent process. In addition to giving away patents to the open source community, IBM wants all patent applications to be subject to public review. And it's urging Congress to do away with patents--including some of its own--based on so-called business methodologies that lack technical merit. But in suing Amazon, IBM promised to "aggressively defend" its intellectual property and hunt down other companies it thinks are using its IP without permission. IBM says it tried unsuccessfully to negotiate a licensing deal with Amazon for four years before filing suit. Amazon declined to comment. The Information Week article also contains the following: U.S. Patent And Trademark Office Proposes limiting to 10 the number of times patent applicants can request a re-examination of their applications and the number of individual patent claims contained in any single application IPBiz asks: is anyone awake at Information Week? Or have they joined with Science in dispensing pure glop about patent law (see 88 JPTOS 743)? Yes, there is a reference to Lerner: "There are some pathologies in the system that need to be dealt with," Harvard Business School professor Josh Lerner says. "Patents have become too powerful and too easy to get" for an economy that's increasingly information-based, Lerner says. Yes, Information Week does note the dichotomy with IBM: IBM's strategy is to be an IP benefactor to the tech industry when it's in IBM's interest, while staunchly defending its IP rights at other times. That's hardly reassuring to entrepreneurs and startups that risk a run-in with IBM as they develop new products. IBM holds about 40,000 patents worldwide for everything from how to display ads online to the creation of an Internet checkout system. IBM patents cover "most of, if not all, e-commerce," senior VP John Kelly told The Wall Street Journal last week. Yes, there is further confusion about the patent system: What's setting off alarms in some quarters is the fact that personalized recommendation systems are widely used, and they can be generated in a number of different ways. "These kind of lawsuits hurt our whole industry," says Mary Hodder, CEO of Dabble.com, an online video-sharing service. She thinks the patent process needs tightening to prevent what she considers a proliferation of nuisance suits. "Most of the patents they grant are really for simple and basic concepts and ideas, not complex and innovative processes, which is what they're supposed to be allowing ," Hodder says. Yes, there is mention of Rivette: Last year, IBM hired Boston Consulting Group patent expert Kevin Rivette as VP for intellectual property. Rivette is author of Rembrandts In The Attic (Harvard Business School Press, 1999), a primer on how companies can profit from their IP assets. Palmisano created a technology and intellectual property unit within IBM under senior VP Kelly, dedicated to finding new markets for the fruits of its research. There is discussion of the Peer-to-patent project: Other critics suggest the vendors' moves are aimed at cementing their advantages at a time when they face rising competition from startups. In an August essay, Harvard Law School professor and tech entrepreneur James Moore argued that the collaborative patent review process proposed by IBM, Microsoft, and others will result in fewer patents being issued because it will give examiners more ammunition to shoot down applications. "If fewer patents are issued, but existing patents are not revoked, IBM and Microsoft win because they already possess vast existing portfolios," Moore writes. IPBiz notes: It is already true that fewer patents are being issued. Further, the re-examination process is still around. ** See also http://ipbiz.blogspot.com/2006/10/ibm-goes-after-amazon-nyt-mentions.html cialis buy cheap cialis viagra buy cilais

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