This question has been of particula

This question has been of particular concern
for the biological sciences, where production
and exchange of biological ‘research tools’ are
important for ongoing scientific progress.
Recent studies addressing this issue in the United
States1,2, Germany3, Australia4 and Japan5 find
that “patent thickets”6 or an “anticommons”7
rarely affect the research of academic scientists.
It is well known that biological scientists report
increasing difficulties associated with access to
research tools but only if the tools are embodied
in physical property controlled by others
and not easily duplicated. Fear of infringing a
prior patent on this material, or the high cost
of licensing, is rarely a factor.