Brazil Voids Merck Patent On AIDS Drug 765
JoeBackward writes "Merck has this useful anti-AIDS drug Elfavirenz, and Brazil has lots of poor people with AIDS. So, after trying really hard to get Merck to cooperate on pricing, the Brazilian government has decided to take a 'compulsory license' to the patent, and get the drug from a factory in India. This compulsory license is basically a way to take the patent by eminent domain." This move gives Brazil one more thing in common with Thailand, both of which have blocked YouTube. Thailand's compulsory licensing of Elfavirenz and Plavix has landed the country on the US's watch list for piracy.
But... (Score:1, Funny)
This is one horrible blow to humanity.
Re:humanity vs capitalism (Score:5, Funny)
That being said, we might also want to remember that RIAA members need copyright durations of artist's death + 1000000 years in order to compensate for all those failed artists.
And let us not forget that not every hole exxon drills yields oil, which makes $3.50/gallon a reasonable price for 85 octane gas.
Furthermore, we should bear in mind that baby seals are vastly overpopulated
Doctors Without Boarders (Score:1, Funny)
Re:humanity vs capitalism (Score:2, Funny)
Re:humanity vs capitalism (Score:2, Funny)
Brazil does not respect property rights, therefore the people of Brazil produce very little of any value beyond hand-to-mouth, and therefore their government can do nothing but steal from other countries in a blatant attempt to flout the same rights of individuals that allowed individuals to create the achievements in the first place.
Re:humanity vs capitalism (Score:2, Funny)