At 10:00 A.M. on April 15th, the U.S. Supreme Court will
entertain oral arguments in the dispute now known as the human
"gene patenting" case. The Association for Molecular
Pathology v. Myriad Genetics, Inc., No. 12-398 (2013) is
likely the highest profile patent dispute before the Supreme Court
in recent history, arguably because it touches on issues concerning
invention, innovation, investment, property rights and the delivery
of health care. Arguing against the patenting of "human
genes" and reversal of 30 years of U.S. patenting precedent is
Christopher A. Hansen (on behalf of the American Civil Liberties
Union ("ACLU") and plaintiffs-petitioners). Gregory A.
Castanias is representing defendants-respondents Myriad Genetics
Inc. et al. ("Myriad"), arguing for the continued
patent-eligibility of isolated human genes, cDNA and functional
fragments of DNA. Solicitor General Donald B. Verrilli, Jr. is
arguing on behalf of the U.S.government as amicus,
supporting neither
