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Blockchains And The Ethical Considerations Of Centralization, Michele Benedetto Neitz
Blockchains And The Ethical Considerations Of Centralization, Michele Benedetto Neitz
Publications
Blockchain technology’s promise is extraordinary—a truly decentralized and immutable ledger that could impact everything from cryptocurrencies and health care to supply chain management and civic voting. But a close examination of both permissioned and permissionless blockchains reveals that blockchain technology is actually moving in the direction of centralization, with small groups of people influencing decisions that affect entire blockchains. This emerging reality has profound ethical ramifications for the governance of blockchains.
The Pros And Cons Of Gene Patents, Chester S. Chuang, Denys T. Lau
The Pros And Cons Of Gene Patents, Chester S. Chuang, Denys T. Lau
Publications
The debate over human gene patents was recently reignited by New York federal Judge Robert Sweet, when he found isolated human gene sequences unpatentable in Association for Molecular Pathology v. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office , 702 F.Supp.2d 181 (S.D.N.Y. 2010). An appeal of the decision is pending, and in October, the U.S. Department of Justice filed an amicus curiae brief in the case arguing that such gene sequences should not be patentable, contradicting long-standing practices of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Given the potent impact of a possible gene patent ban on gene-based medical therapies and the …