Only patent reform could put iPods and Alzheimer’s in the same quote

This quote, from Hans Sauer - Associate General Counsel for the Biotechnology Industry Organization - perfectly positions the hi-tech/life-tech divide on patent reform legislation:

“Will I, 30 years from now, pay $10 less for an iPod and have a 10 percent less chance that Alzheimer’s medicine will be available?” (source)

The source article reports that life-tech lobbying efforts have stalled the Senate reform bill, and hints at what might be hi-tech’s next political move on the patent reform issue - an attack on the unitary nature of our patent system (a concept that has been lurking in the background for some time now).

“You have a group of companies that are happy with the status quo, and are saying, ‘Don’t change it; it’s not broken,’” [Bruce Sewel, Intel executive Vice President and General Counsel] said. “That’s fine, but it’s broken for a lot of other people.” (emphasis added)