Privacy

Ruling could aid challenge to UW stem cell patents;

May 1, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Supreme Court affirms basis of patent objection</h3><p class="source">Milwaukee Sentinel-Journal (Wisconsin)</p> <p>"We thought what James Thomson did was obvious when we filed the challenges, so this would, if anything, enhance our case," said John M. Simpson, stem cell project director at the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a consumer watchdog group in Santa Monica, Calif. The other group that in July requested the re-examination of WARF's patents is the Public Patent Foundation, a New York group that targets the patent system.</p>

Group calls for WARF director’s resignation from Patent Office board

April 30, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Milwaukee Business Journal</p> <p>The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights and the Public Patent Foundation, of New York, challenged the WARF patents in July 2006. The two groups said they brought the challenge because the three WARF patents were impeding scientific progress and driving vital stem cell research overseas, where the patents are not recognized.</p>

Trump gives $10,000 donation to Schwarzenegger, who appeared on ‘The Apprentice’

April 29, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>The governor denies any link between the donation and the television appearance, but some political watchdog groups are skeptical. "He's clearly using his personal friendships and his celebrity to pay off his campaign debt, and that's just wrong," said Jamie Court, president of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a group that tracks campaign donations.</p>

US patents revoked — boost for S’pore pioneer;

April 28, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Key stem-cell patents of varsity cancelled -- recognition for work by Prof. Bongso, others</h3><p class="source">The Straits Times (Singapore)</p> <p>What led to the recent decision on the patents held by the University of Wisconsin-Madison were challenges mounted last year by two US watchdogs -- the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights and the Public Patent Foundation.</p>

With Tobacco Case, a Side of Prop 64

April 19, 2007  ·  Pam Pressley

<p class="source">Callaw Reporter</p> <p>Pamela Pressley, litigation director for the Santa Monica-based FTCR, insists voters were deceived by major corporations that are now trying to pervert the initiative for their own interests. "It was a bait and switch," Pressley says. "Voters were told one thing, and now the companies are turning around and using [Prop 64] as a shield against liability."</p>

Stem cell agency president steps down earlier than planned

April 18, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>"Hall's health should be a primary concern," said John Simpson of the Foundation For Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, which has been a vocal critic of the agency. "But clearly there are substantial disagreements at stake here. It's never a good sign when an agency's chief executive leaves after a policy dispute."</p>

Stem-cell exec moves up date of resignation

April 18, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">San Jose Mercury News (California)</p> <p>Although it's unclear if Hall's letter signals a serious division within the agency, John Simpson of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, found it troubling. "It just seemed kind of bizarre to me," Simpson said, adding that he hoped the institute's officials don't unduly rush into issuing grants to build stem-cell laboratories. Given the amount of public money involved, he said, "if they want to have a process that takes a little longer to get things right, that seems to me to make sense."</p>

Two quit stem cell panel after dispute;

April 18, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Talk on distributing funds grows contentious.</h3><p class="source">Sacramento Bee (California)</p> <p>John Simpson, stem cell project director for the watchdog group Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, said that while Hall's health should be the primary concern, his abrupt departure, combined with Doms' resignation, should raise alarms. "It's never a good sign when the chief executive of a public agency resigns after a policy dispute," he said.</p>

Stem cells not only golden goose for WARF;

April 16, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Stem cells get the publicity, but the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation's cash cow continues to be vitamin D.</h3><p class="source">Wisconsin State Journal</p> <p>The Los Angeles-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, which was joined by the New York-based Public Patent Foundation in asking for the federal review, argued that Thomson's accomplishment in 1998 was "obvious" because other scientists had done similar work in mice, sheep and pigs. The patent office, in its preliminary rejection, agreed.</p>

State’s stem cell leadership depends on scientists

April 16, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Wisconsin State Journal</p> <p>By requesting that the embryonic stem cell patents be re-examined, the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights' John M. Simpson, the Public Patent Foundation's Dan Ravicher and I gave the patent office the opportunity to rethink and reconsider whether the broad patents on embryonic stem cells should be issued to WARF. </p>

PTO Rejects Human Stem Cell Patents at Behest of Consumer Groups

April 13, 2007  ·  John M. Simpson

<p class="source">Biotech Business Week</p> <p>The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has upheld challenges by consumer advocates to three over-reaching patents on human embryonic stem cells and rejected patent claims by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights (FTCR) said.</p>

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: U.S. Patent Office Casts Doubt on Wisconsin Stem Cell Patents

April 13, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Science Magazine</p> <p>Preliminary as it is, many people are gratified by the patent decision. "Nobody wanted to do anything, but everybody seemed very, very glad that we did," says John M. Simpson of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica, California, which brought the request last July.</p>