Privacy

UW PATENT WORRY MAY BE PREMATURE

April 3, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Capital Times (Madison, Wisconsin)</p> <p>The WARF patents were challenged by the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights and the Public Patent Foundation last July. The public interest groups contend that UW-Madison researcher James Thomson's work to isolate stem cell lines was obvious in light of previous scientific research, making his findings unpatentable.</p>

Federal regulators to toss three Wisconsin stem cell patents

April 3, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, an arm of the University of Wisconsin that controls the school's patents, owns the patents and has 60 days to respond and seek to change the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's ruling, issued Friday. The ruling was made public Monday by the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights and the Public Patent Foundation, which challenged the validity of the patents.</p>

Sweeping stem cell patents rejected;

April 3, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Decision could expand research</h3><p class="source">The San Diego Union-Tribune</p> <p>The ruling released yesterday could remove what many scientists say is one of the biggest deterrents to working in the promising field of human embryonic stem cell research -- a barrier that has been driving scientists and funding overseas.</p>

Stem-cell patents tossed;

April 2, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Preliminary decision against UW may set up years-long legal battle</h3><p class="source">Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel (Wisconsin)</p> <p>John Simpson, an official at the Santa Monica consumer rights group, was jubilant over the preliminary outcome. "This is a great day for scientific research," Simpson said in a statement released late Monday. "The patents should never have been issued in the first place."</p>

UW patents jeopardized

April 2, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Wisconsin State Journal</p> <p>Critics of the patents, who say they stifle research, said the decision will likely kill the patents. But UW-Madison officials said they will appeal, a process that could take months or years. During that time, the patents will remain active.</p>

Spring break means overseas travel for some lawmakers

April 1, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>The foundation sponsored a two-week trip to South America last November. A consumer group, the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, called that trip a luxurious junket that gave corporate representatives and labor officials the chance to socialize with lawmakers.</p>

Campaign disclosure no panacea for limiting influence;

March 30, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Some experts say California's deluge of campaign records may actually make wrongdoing harder to spot.</h3><p class="source">The Orange County Register (California)</p> <p>Doug Heller (FTCR) was careful to say he strongly supports disclosure because it allows you to figure out which special interests are buying influence. But he added it doesn't stop wrongdoing. "One of the reasons I know disclosure is problematic is because it's what all the politicians want," Heller said.</p>

Arnold’s Appointees Make Harriet Miers Look Like a Good Pick

March 29, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">A dirty battle is being waged on the Board of Chiropractic Examiners, where Schwarzenegger appointees are slinging accusations of threats, bias, theft, misconduct, secrecy, favoritism,...</font>

Calif. stem cell grant raises concerns;

March 26, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Public interest groups criticize decision to award CHA Regenerative Medicine Institute nearly $3 million</h3><p class="source">The Scientist Magazine</p> <p>The two agencies criticizing CIRM's decision, Center for Genetics and Society (CGS) and the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights (FTCR), support embryonic stem cell research, but have been vocal critics of the California stem cell agency.</p>

AT&T execs donate funds to governor

March 23, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>Eight top-ranking executives at AT&T have given $5,000 apiece to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's campaign committee in recent weeks, just months after the governor approved a bill easing access for the telecommunications giant...</p>

California Groups Protest Stem Cell Grant, Seek Probe

March 23, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Bloomberg News</p> <p>A second advocacy group, the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, called on the state stem cell agency to freeze the grant while it looks into the institute's corporate links. The Santa Monica, California-based group also raised questions in an e-mailed statement yesterday about a plagiarism scandal that has surrounded Kwang-Yul Cha, the chairman of the institute's parent company, CHA Biotech.</p>

AT&T Delivers 500Gs for Arnold– Will it Get to the Kids?

March 21, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">The Gov had to go out of state yesterday, straight into the heart of Texas, to pick up a <a href="http://www.ktre.com/Global/story.asp?S=6256610">$500,000 check from AT&T</a> for his favorite...</font>