Italians Found Way to 3-D Print Key Ventilator Piece for $1, face lawsuit from patent holder

[Jake Stern]

After two Italian volunteers used a 3-D printer to manufacture a desperately needed ventilator component for those stricken by the coronavirus, the medical company with the patent for the device threatened to sue—even as the printed valves saved at least 10 people's lives in a hospital in the northern Italian city of Brescia.

"There were people whose lives were in danger, and we acted," Cristian Fracassi, who along with fellow volunteer Alessandro Ramaioli made the valves, said in a Facebook post on Sunday. "Period."

Read More: https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/03/18/italians-found-way-3-d-print-key-ventilator-piece-1-help-battle-coronavirus-so

The company that holds the patent charges $11,000 A PIECE for the part.

[BeckyDem]

1. Profits come first. Capitalism, such a rewarding enterprise.

[Brainfodder]

6. They donating all this loot to Jesus or something?

Their endless pursuit of $ needs classified as an illness, and give them rehab by taking 98% of it and having a national lottery without tickets?

Once you win, you are removed from the lottery, so everyone gets a win until a reset!

Now that would be fucking way hella cool!



Good Luck!

[BeckyDem]

9. +1

[Iggo]

2. Martin Shkreli motherfuckers.

Go die.

[FiveGoodMen]

13. We should really help them with that.

[C_U_L8R]

3. Can patents be annulled by the government to benefit the public good?

Couldn't find the answer on Dr Google.

[Chainfire]

4. Let 'em sue

How do you think a jury would handle that when it comes to trial?

[Lancero]

7. Depends on how many they manage to pay off.

[WyattKansas]

5. Just think how many world problems could be solved if the Patent Office was opened up?

I am curious as to how much improvement and progress has been corrupted and stalled by capitalism.

Of course my thoughts then immediately drift off to, how in the hell did I get stuck in the dimension that is ruled by the Ferengi Rules of Acquisition.

[Bluethroughu]

8. Time cancel the patent

In the name of humanity.
They don't own life and this is a measure of life and death.

[FiveGoodMen]

10. And THAT is why capitalism is unacceptable.

[Jake Stern]

11. When someone asks me "Why do young people find socialism so appealing?"

I point to things like this.

It's hard for anyone, except the most die hard of free marketeers, to wrap their heads around charging $11,000 for a part that likely costs a few bucks to make. Especially when much of the funding for R&D came in the form of government grants.

In my opinion that kind of profiteering is obscene.

[rusty fender]

12. I hope a that a jury

awards the patent holder one fucking dollar