• Phillipkdink [he/him]
    ·
    3 years ago

    I don't quite understand the mechanics of a country's rights over multinationals. Could Biden, in theory, nationalize Pfizer and Moderna tomorrow and end this nonsense? Like they're American companies right?

    I guess I'm just concerned about shifting blame to scapegoat countries. Why does it matter what Germany says?

    • kristina [she/her]
      ·
      3 years ago

      i mean, pfizer and moderna would still exist, just they wouldnt have any more factories and stuff in the usa which means germany would get angsty and maybe try to retaliate

      • Phillipkdink [he/him]
        ·
        3 years ago

        So nationalizing a multinational only gets you their factories, not their IP?

        • DefinitelyNotAPhone [he/him]
          ·
          3 years ago

          IP, like all other private property "rights", only exist so long as the state says it does. If you have a copy of the formulas (vaccines have formulas, right? Or is it more just a combination of steps on how to make the mRNA/weakened virus?) you have the IP, let the rest of the international community whine about IP infringement all they want while you pump out cheap vaccines for all.

          • Phillipkdink [he/him]
            ·
            3 years ago

            I'm honestly pretty ignorant about this stuff which is why I'm asking - are the steps & specific mRNA sequence publically known, and the only thing stopping countries from making them (besides capital restraints) is fear of legal or other retaliation?

            • DefinitelyNotAPhone [he/him]
              ·
              3 years ago

              As I understand it, the general steps and procedures are known (because they're patented), but enough of the 'secret sauce' is protected to avoid others simply copying it. You would likely need the in-house instructions to replicate it, as well as likely some proprietary tech they've built.

              • kristina [she/her]
                ·
                edit-2
                3 years ago

                all details are patented and shared with the government, they thoroughly map out whats going on so that if anyone replicates the process they can destroy them. some parts obviously arent forward facing to avoid people copying patents, depending on the complexity of the invention. sometimes you can detail the entire invention and its no biggy because you didnt detail the specific tools you used.

                source: i used to look at estradiol patents to see if i could replicate estrogen if society collapsed lol