Washington D.C., Sep 24, 2011 / 15:44 pm
Pro-life leaders welcomed the recent passage of the “Weldon Patent Ban,” which makes permanent a prohibition on patenting human embryos. Previously, the ban had to be annually renewed.
“Human kind should not be for sale at any state of development,” said Dr. Charmaine Yoest, president of Americans United for Life.
“Making permanent this important pro-life policy to ensure human organisms are never patented is a notable victory for Americans who believe that human beings – regardless of their stage of development – are not considered property to be licensed for financial gain.”
The Weldon ban was included as part of the 58-page America Invests Act, which was signed into law by President Obama on Sept. 19. The act makes various changes to laws regulating the activity of the U.S. Patents and Trademarks Office.