Jurassic Patent: How Colossal Biosciences is attempting to own the “woolly mammoth”
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Summary
Texas-based Colossal Biosciences is hoping to create genetically modified elephants with ancient mammoth DNA and release them into nature reserves in an effort to combat climate change.
The company wants to apply for a patent to legally own these gene-edited creatures and has also filed patents on other “transgenic” animals, such as genetically modified wolves.
Colossal CEO Ben Lamm said that having control via patents would be “critical” and could also provide a “clear legal framework” for managing the animals when they are reintroduced to their natural habitats.
However, the intellectual property rights could create a legal monopoly over the animals and raise questions over who owns de-extinction processes.
Legal specialist Cassie Edgar said it was not clear whether the patent would cover the animals as sentient creatures or be limited to specific technical innovations.
De-extinction company Revive & Restore said it does not think its work should be controlled by intellectual-property claims.