{ Friday, January 23, 2009 }
This was from Kary Mullis, who invented the polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, the "screwdriver", as he called it, of molecular biology. It earned Cetus, the company he worked for, $300 million dollars, and him nothing. Quoted in Creators on Creating, edited by Frank Barron et al.
I just heard about the Merrill Lynch bonuses and carpets today and this quote seemed sad-but-true. But there are certainly some businesspeople who behave like philosophers.
LINK | 7:55 PM | TB
surely this has more value to society than Spiderman 3. alas.
striatic | January 24, 2009 1:30 PMIn terms of fairness of compensation for a discovery or an invention, I guess it comes down to symbiosis and what the employee get from the employer too. For example, if Kary Mullis benefited from a salary and a team and a lab with equipment for years before he succeeded in his invention, it is also "unfair" to say that he could have done it on his own and keep the return of his work.
In any case, if you want your employees to make ANOTHER good invention, you better give them a cut and bump them up the ladder instead of letting them join the competition once they feel unappreciated, like many famous inventors did.
Yves | January 25, 2009 8:40 AMThe $300 million is what they sold the patent for, and it was 15-20 years ago, I am guessing. At the time it was the largest amount ever paid for a single patent.
Caterina | January 26, 2009 6:43 AMNo, businesses are not fair, but neither is life. Ms. Mullis is correct and astute in stating that the world owes no one a living. Most companies require that creative inventions become property of the corporation. More than likely Cetus required that as well. Few of us are fortunate enough to be able to own an invention, and even fewer can claim to have invented anything. Corporations have no obligation to insure a standard of living. That many people enjoy a very good standard of living from corporate life is only as a result of either good fortune or great talent. Most often good fortune.
Mike | January 26, 2009 5:30 PMAny references to bussines people / philosophers.. pretty please? :)
Titanas | January 27, 2009 9:08 AMWow, never heard the Nobel prize characterized as "nothing" before...
SEC | February 1, 2009 3:22 AM{ Post a comment }
i'm surprised that the invention itself was only worth $300 million. that seems a bit unfair itself.
after international and DVD sales, there are movies that make more than that.
striatic | January 24, 2009 1:28 PM