FC: DNI Copyright Institute now open for business -- sign up now!

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

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Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2001 19:31:34 -0700
To: Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>
From: Peggy Richardson - mer-IT Consulting <peggy () mer-it com>
Subject: Interesting DNA/Cloning markeitng idea

Hello Mr. McCullagh,
You must have already seen this, but just in case not, I thought you and 
your politechbot readers might find this interesting. Only in America would 
someone find a way to sell you the rights to something you already own by 
birthright. (My question is, what if I rush out and copyright Michael 
Jordan's DNA tomorrow? Can I then legally clone him without his permission? 
What an interesting retirement income plan.)
Good day,
Peggy in Canada

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_1492000/1492859.stm

[excerpt]
Wednesday, 15 August, 2001, 17:59 GMT 18:59 UK
US firm offers stars DNA copyright
A privately-held corporation in the United States is trying to persuade 
famous individuals to copyright their DNA. The DNA Copyright Institute, San 
Franscisco, wants stars to use its services to strengthen their legal 
position should anyone decide to clone them against their will.
[see link above for rest of article]

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Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2001 12:28:05 -0700
From: Mark Hefflinger <mark () digitalmediawire com>
Subject: personal DNA copyrighting service
To: declan () well com

Declan, thought you may find this interesting. It is truly too bizarre.

So what do they do to "infringers," exterminate them and seek damages of up
to $150,000 per incident/clone? I can hear Judge Patel now: "No. No. Do you
understand, Mr. Boies? All duplicate Tom Cruises must be 100% dead before
these proceedings may continue."
-mark

http://www.prnmedia.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=107&STORY=/www/story/08-14-2
001/0001554408&EDATE=
World's First Personal DNA Copyright Service Launched
    SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- In a ground-breaking development
on
the issue of cloning and the rights of the individual, the DNA Copyright
Institute today announced that it has begun providing DNA Copyright Services
to the public.
    According to a DNA Copyright Institute spokesperson, "With the advent of
cloning technology, in the U.S. or abroad, you will also see the beginning
of
a new type of commerce -- trading in the acquired DNA of desirable
celebrities.  We anticipate that a number of celebrities such as musicians,
models, actors, and athletes will see the immediate and long-term benefit of
establishing their DNA Copyright to protect themselves.  Any celebrity will
tell you that they have fans out there excited enough to try cloning if it
were available, regardless of the cost."
    As with many new technologies, cost probably won't be a factor for long,
though local legislation will.
    Chief Legal Counsel Matthew Marca said that the Institute provides the
world's first and only Personal DNA Copyright Service.  According to Marca,
"The question that we're addressing is who has the copyright to your
individual DNA pattern, the DNA fingerprint absolutely unique to you and no
one else?  The answer according to Copyright law is 'you.'  We believe that
both now and in the future a service like this is required to deter DNA
theft
and misappropriation across international lines."
    DNA fingerprinting has reached the point where an individual's unique
DNA
pattern can be detected, illustrated, and used to establish ownership.  If a
person had a justifiable suspicion that someone was their clone, a simple
DNA
pattern test with a 100% match would confirm it.  Regardless of local laws
on
the permissibility of cloning, the internationally applicable and personally
enforceable law would be that of Copyright infringement.
    States the DNA Copyright Institute founder, businessman and author
Andre Crump, "The hard truth is that no law can completely prevent crime,
but
it can deter them and support the pursuit of justice.  That concept is the
basis of our Copyright, Patent, and Trademark laws.  There's been a lot of
talk about 'designer genes,' but in our opinion every individual is a
'designer original,' and Copyright law supports this view."
    The DNA Copyright Institute, Inc. uses a nationwide network of DNA
Testing
partners to quickly process Client DNA, then compares the results within its
proprietary internal database of DNA copyright patterns to protect against
fraud or multiple submissions, and establishes the results for the Client in
a
copyrightable format.  Through the DNA Copyright Institute process, Clients
can establish copyright protection, guaranteeing legal recourse so that
their
Personal DNA Pattern cannot be duplicated in printed, electronic,
photographic, or biological form.  The cost of the service is all inclusive.
Optional registration with the U.S. Copyright Office is an additional fee,
but
is not required to establish a legal Copyright.
    "The concept has short and long-term legs," says Board member and
technology industry strategist Sally Sheward.  "Other firms desiring to
provide this service will need to compare their results to the DNA Copyright
Institute's database in order to guarantee against fraud or multiple
submissions, or offer it as an Institute partner.  The DNA Copyright
Institute
has seen the need, especially among people in the high-risk category for DNA
theft or misappropriation, and reacted to it."
    The DNA Copyright Institute website is located at
http://www.DNAcopyright.com.

    About the DNA Copyright Institute, Inc.
    Founded in 2001, The DNA Copyright Institute (DNACI) provides services
for
individuals seeking to show ownership of their personal DNA, and to protect
it
against future actions such as DNA theft, cloning, and other unauthorized
activities.
    The first of its kind and a trailblazing pioneer, the DNA Copyright
Institute partners with leading firms in the Legal, Biotech, Entertainment,
and Sports industries to provide the top services in this field.

                Click here

SOURCE  DNA Copyright Institute, Inc.
Web Site: http://www.DNAcopyright.com

CONTACT: Sarah Walpole of The DNA Copyright Institute, Inc.,+1-718-840-0403

Mark Hefflinger
Editor
Digital Media Wire
323 654 9473 (WIRE)
323 654 9483 (fax)
mark () digitalmediawire com
www.digitalmediawire.com

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Date: Fri, 10 Aug 2001 00:58:03 -0400 (EDT)
From: Charles Platt <cp () panix com>
To: Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>
Cc: <cp () panix com>
Subject: Constitutional Empowerment?
Message-ID: <Pine.NEB.4.33.0108100054070.8066-100000 () panix2 panix com>
Errors-To: cp () panix com
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
X-UIDL: 3e994a4736e0c76163305432a3172e08

In Bush's speech on stem-cell research, I find the following statement:

"I have decided we must proceed with great care."

Can anyone explain how Bush has the constitutional right to make this
decision on behalf of everybody else, including our elected
representatives in Congress? Is he now the commander-in-chief of US
science policy, as well as being the commander-in-chief of the armed
forces?

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