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Lawsuit by Henrietta Lacks’ descendants asks key questions about intellectual property

May 20, 2022
The Black woman's cells, taken in 1951 without her consent, spurred medical advances worth billions. Now a judge has to decide if her family is entitled to a share of the profits.
Attendees admire a painting of Henrietta Lacks at HBO's The HeLa Project Exhibit For "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" on April 6, 2017 in New York City. A lawsuit against a pharma company from Lacks' descendants brings up a host of ethical questions surrounding medical profits, intellectual property and racial equity.
Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for HBO

Biden pressed to support intellectual property waiver for COVID-19 vaccines

Nov 26, 2021
Advocates say a waiver is "a moral imperative" to help make vaccines readily available worldwide.
In a letter, more than 15 countries called an emergency intellectual property waiver for COVID vaccines “a moral imperative."
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

U.S. officials warn tech companies of foreign threats in five key areas

Why U.S. counterintelligence officials are telling companies to be wary about foreign business deals.
Counterintelligence officials are telling American companies to be wary about foreign attempts to target developments in artificial intelligence, quantum information systems, biotechnology, semiconductors and autonomous systems.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

More of your trade war questions, answered

Jan 14, 2020
The U.S. and China are set to complete phase one of a trade agreement. Here are some of your questions, answered.
President Donald Trump shakes hands with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He in the Oval Office at the White House in October.
Win McNamee/Getty Images

EU to vote on contentious copyright proposal

Mar 26, 2019
Members of the European Parliament vote today on a proposal that could make it harder for internet users to share songs, videos and other copyrighted content online.
People take part in a demonstration in favour of the new copyright directive ahead of the vote on copyright in the Digital Single Market at the European Parliament on March 26, 2019 in Strasbourg, eastern France.
FREDERICK FLORIN/AFP/Getty Images

A major trade sticking point between the U.S. and China has deep roots

Feb 14, 2019
The history of intellectual property theft goes back centuries.
"Theft [of technology] was the norm throughout history, all the way since the Industrial Revolution," says Greg Clark, a professor of economics at the University of California, Davis.
Nicolas Asfouri/AFP/Getty Images

How do you advertise a Super Bowl party without saying “Super Bowl?”

Jan 30, 2019
The NFL owns dozens of trademarks and isn’t afraid to go after anyone using them.
An exterior view of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where Super Bowl LIII will take place, is seen on Jan. 27, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Justin Heiman/ Getty

For public good, not for profit.

U.S. trade officials hold hearing on next batch of tariffs

Jul 24, 2018
In June, President Donald Trump announced tariffs on $50 billion in Chinese goods, most of which went into effect earlier this month. Now U.S. trade officials are set to impose the rest of them, but not before a hearing on Tuesday and Wednesday with U.S. business leaders. The list of products includes industrial machinery, communications […]
A factory worker makes parts in a welding room at LGMazak, a Sino-Japanese joint venture firm that manufactures digitally controlled machinery for automotive, aviation, chemical, and manufacturing industries, 03 September 2004 in Yinchuan, in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous region. 
FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images

Is China forcing U.S. tech companies to hand over their secrets?

Jun 27, 2018
Escalating trade tensions could cause consumer prices to rise.
The ZTE logo is seen on a building in Beijing on May 2, 2018.
WANG ZHAO/AFP/Getty Images

White House plans new measures to protect American technology

Jun 25, 2018
The Trump administration is expected to announce new restrictions on Chinese investment in U.S. technology companies later this week. The specifics are unclear. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin took to Twitter today to contradict reports that companies with at least 25 percent Chinese ownership will be barred from buying U.S. companies with “industrially significant technology.” The […]