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U.S. Agency Rejects Wisconsin Stem-Cell Patents

April 13, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Chronicle of Higher Education</p> <p>The patent office undertook the re-examination of the three patents in response to a request filed in July by the Public Patent Foundation, of New York, and the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, in California.</p>

Patent ruling isn’t a blow to UW’s research leadership

April 13, 2007  ·  John M. Simpson

<p class="source">Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Wisconsin)</p> <p>Wisconsin will remain a leader in the field because of Thomson and his colleagues' work, and research firms will continue to locate near UW because of the proximity to its vibrant scientific community. But officials from a self-serving foundation with its own narrow agenda cannot be allowed to elbow their way to the table by waving undeserved patents that are ultimately detrimental to researchers everywhere.</p>

Patent ruling isn’t a blow to UW’s research leadership

April 13, 2007  ·  John M. Simpson

<p class="source">Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Wisconsin)</p> <p>Wisconsin will remain a leader in the field because of Thomson and his colleagues' work, and research firms will continue to locate near UW because of the proximity to its vibrant scientific community. But officials from a self-serving foundation with its own narrow agenda cannot be allowed to elbow their way to the table by waving undeserved patents that are ultimately detrimental to researchers everywhere.</p>

Massive Calif. contracts database riddled with errors, omissions

April 13, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>The database set up to provide a window into how California spends billions of taxpayer dollars is badly flawed. The inventory of tens of thousands of contracts and purchases is littered with typographical errors and jargon, undercut by omissions and weakened by uncertainty over what gets listed, when and by whom, an investigation by The Associated Press has found. "It's wonderful to have a computer system but if nobody is checking what's in it, what's the use of it?" said Jamie Court of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a watchdog group.</p>

How green is governor’s hue?;

April 13, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>A national symbol of environmentalism, he has skeptics at home.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Schwarzenegger killed another bill last year that would have made it state policy to take every step necessary to reduce dependence on oil. And he vetoed a measure that would have required that half of all cars sold in California by 2020 be capable of using alternative fuels. Watchdog groups said the governor faces a conflict of interest by rejecting such legislation, given the campaign money he takes from the oil industry.</p>

CONSUMERS GROUP CRITICIZES TEXT-MESSAGING CHARITY

April 11, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">TECHNOLOGY DAILY</p> <p>The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights thinks a new program that lets people text-message donations to the American Red Cross during emergencies is nothing more than a business strategy disguised as a charity. The New York Times reports that the Text 2Help program, first used after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, was promoted last month at a wireless industry trade show.</p>

The flat tax: It’s simple, alluring; But one-size-fits-all idea faces skepticism, too

April 11, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE</p> <p>This sentiment was echoed by Carmen Balber, a spokeswoman for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica. "A family of four making $50,000 shouldn't be paying the same rate as someone making $250,000," she said.</p>

Giant reined in by landmark judgment;

April 11, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>A decision by the US patent office offers encouragement to small-scale research units</h3><p class="source">The Australian (Australia)</p> <p>As the WARF challenge shows, it's far from easy to keep the balance between rewarding innovators and allowing others to build on their insights and technologies. That's especially so when patents reach back into laboratories and choke off the fundamental research that underpins innovation, patents and profitable applications. Such was the situation with WARF's patented stranglehold on ES cell technology. It took an enormous effort to shake it off, specifically a collaboration between the Los Angeles-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights and New York City's Public Patent Foundation.</p>

Light bulb legislator strives for bright ideas;

April 9, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Elephants are also on radar of Lloyd Levine, who wants to 'do big things'</h3><p class="source">Sacramento Bee (California)</p> <p>The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a political watchdog group, blasted the trip as a "luxury vacation," noting that one attendee was a top official from AT&T, a prime beneficiary of Levine's cable TV bill. "I think when you're sipping sake and singing karaoke with corporate executives in Japan, Californians' best interests might not reach the top of your list of concerns," spokeswoman Carmen Balber said.</p>

Government nixes stem-cell patents;

April 4, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office rejects three patents held by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation.</h3><p class="source">The Daily Deal (deal.com)</p> <p>A challenge to the patents brought last summer by the Public Patent Foundation and the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights convinced the patent examiner that researchers in the U.S. and Australia had done work before Thomson with embryonic stem cells from humans and other mammals that made the WARF claims "obvious" -- patent language for not innovative enough.</p>

Stem cell patents: Rejected!

April 3, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>The Patent and Trademark Office shakes up the biotech intellectual property status quo.</h3><p class="source">Salon.com</p> <p>Score another victory for the patent law freedom fighters. The Public Patent Foundation is proudly reporting the news that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has rejected three crucial stem cell patents originally filed by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF).</p>

Patent office upholds challenge to WARF stem cell patents

April 3, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Wisconsin Technology Network</p> <p>John M. Simpson, FTCR stem cell project director, called it a great day for scientific research. The foundation has argued that the WARF patents are impeding scientific progress and driving stem cell research overseas.</p>