RE: [ccp4bb]: License required for deposited structures!

["Bernhard Rupp" <br@llnl.gov>]

***  For details on how to be removed from this list visit the  ***
***          CCP4 home page http://www.ccp4.ac.uk         ***

> other things that are good to know: a patent can only be 
> obtained for a functioning technical solution to a problem, 
> which is both novel and non-obvious

Well, judging from some previous BB exchange, 'prior art' does 
not seem to stop anyone from getting patents:

1. A process for identifying a ligand to a target biomolecule 
comprising, a) obtaining a target biomolecule crystal; b) exposing 
the target biomolecule crystal to one or more test samples; and c) 
obtaining an X-ray crystal diffraction pattern to determine whether 
a ligand/receptor complex is formed. 

Secondly, 'non-obviousness' also appears frequently not to be enforced:

3. The process according to claim 1 further comprising the 
step of transforming diffraction pattern into an electron 
density map. 
4. The process according to claim 3 further comprising 
the step of converting electron density map into a structure. 

How can this fly????

br