[DaniFong]

I think that copyright, with a shorter term, is a very reasonable model for pharmaceuticals given the current FDA process, but it is not complete. The FDA still frowns upon off label use -- but the challenges in medical regulation are for another, longer discussion.

I do think that patents allow for a brief period, post product release, of allowing one to recoup the costs of initial investment. But if I were to rearrange the terms, I would suggest that the patent expire 3 years post-initial commercial release, or 15 years after filing -- whichever is shorter.

Generally, I think that we should force more creativity out of our thieves. I think the patent system should revert to something much closer to copyright.

In the meantime, groups of companies could support defensive patent pools, or the patent pledge.