Post #721888 by wizzard419 on Mon, Jul 7, 2014 2:14 PM

Patents are very weird, but it is good that they have such short lifespans otherwise things like medication would constantly stay high in the US (other first world countries force the drug makers to lower prices) forever. I think the only reason they even file patents instead of sticking to trade secrets is that the FDA requires the formula be open to scrutiny from outside groups.

This has actually led to a huge problem for drug makers too, India has become a hotbed for the production of unauthorized generics for meds still under protection. Same formulas, purity, production standards, etc. being sold for pennies. Where it starts to get really sticky though is that they aren't knocking off Viagra, Vicodin, etc. they are doing it with things like AIDS medication and selling it in Africa where a month's supply of the brand name stuff costs thousands and the generics costs tens.