[kauffj]

I think the notion that one can own facts will one day be viewed as archaic as the notion that one can own people.

[euyyn]

Can you own a secret, though? Or is it OK for a government to force you reveal it publicly?

If people have a right to own secrets, and if NDAs can be legally enforced, then a market of (the knowledge of) facts can naturally emerge that's strictly worse than the patent system.

[daughart]

They don't own any facts. They own the ability to exclude others from selling, as well as importing/exporting, certain materials.

[toomuchtodo]

Which is going to break down quickly when anyone can replicate those materials at little cost on their workbench.

[daughart]

They do a pretty good job regulating drug imports that violate IP, and I suspect they will here as well. The materials in question will be complex human therapeutic compositions, not research materials. I strongly doubt people will be creating therapeutic CRISPR compositions at the workbench (which will also include sophisticated delivery and targeting molecular products).