Laurie Axford

"There's a general sentiment that patents are inherently bad for the public as they drive up prices; the public sees a drop in prices when patents expire," explains Laurie Axford, counsel specializing in intellectual property for life science and health care at law firm Morrison and Foerster, LLP.
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"There are two classes of user: the product end user - the consumer - and the technical end user - the researcher," says Axford.
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In addition, says Axford of Morrison and Foerster, "the PTO is undertaking to fund examination of more complex patents.
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"Virtually no biotechnology company can go from concept to market without some licensing deal," says Axford of Morrison and Foerster.
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Axford of Morrison and Foerster outlines the considerations that should go into the decision."An in-house attorney has a much closer association with the scientists, which facilitates the patenting process," she explains.