Logical Reasoning

PT16 · S2 · Q2 Recently, reviewers of patent applications

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Recently, reviewers of patent applications decided against granting a patent to a university for a genetically engineered mouse developed for laboratory use in studying cancer.

Conclusion

You can't patent this genetically engineered mouse.

Evidence

It's a new animal variety, and the rules governing the granting of patents specifically disallow patents for new animal varieties.

Evaluate

GIVEN THAT the mouse is a new animal variety and you can't get a patent for new animal varieties,

HOW CAN WE ARGUE THAT they should be granted a patent for this mouse?

Feels tough to argue with the logic. We'd have to argue with the premises, in a sense. The argument centers on whether or not the genetically engineered mouse falls under the category of "new animal varieties," which the rules disallow from receiving patents.

Maybe we could show that the genetically engineered mouse does not really qualify as "new animal variety" in the relevant sense intended by that rule, or that the rule is being misapplied or misunderstood by the reviewers.

Goal

Let's find an answer that suggests the reviewers incorrectly are applying that patent rule when deciding against the patent request for the mouse. We need a way to argue that the mouse patent should be allowed.

2.

Which one of the following, if true, most weakens the patent reviewers’ argument?

  1. Correct

    The restrictions the patent reviewers

    Why this is right

    The restriction pertaining only to domesticated farm animals suggests that the rules disallowing patents for new animal varieties were misapplied. If the restrictions cited by the patent reviewers apply solely to domesticated farm animals, the genetically engineered mouse for lab use would not fall under this restriction. Thus, the patent reviewers' argument that the mouse is a new animal variety excluded from patents is weakened.

    Skill tested: Weaken · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

    76% picked this

  2. The university’s application for a

    No Impact

    This option provides extra information regarding the university's history with patent applications, specifically that it is their first such application. This doesn’t help to show that the ruling on animal variety rules was wrongly applied to the genetically engineered mouse.

    1% picked this

  3. The patent reviewers had reached

    No Impact

    The fact that reviewers consistently reached the same decision on previous requests doesn't affect whether their interpretation and application of the rules regarding animal varieties was appropriate in this particular case. Consistency doesn't guarantee correctness, so this doesn't tell us anything about whether their decision has been correct in all these cases.

    2% picked this

  4. The patent reviewers had in

    No Impact

    This option highlights a decision pattern with plant patents, which doesn't directly relate to the question about animal varieties. The reviewer's approval of patents for genetically engineered plant varieties does not impact the argument about animal patents.

    6% picked this

  5. The patent reviewers had previously

    Unclear Impact

    This answer distinguishes the reviewers' past decisions between conventionally bred and genetically engineered animals. However, it doesn't give us a clear foothold for arguing that, "since THIS time we're dealing with genetic engineering, not conventional breeding, you SHOULD grant the patent."

    15% picked this

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