ProfNet Experts Available on Patent Law, National Security, Investing in Agriculture

NEW YORK, April 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Below are experts from the ProfNet network that are available to discuss timely issues in your coverage area. If you are interested in interviewing any of the experts, please contact them via the contact information at the end of the listing. To receive these updates by email, send a note to [email protected] with the industries you cover, and we'll add you to the appropriate edition.  

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EXPERT ALERTS

• Myriad Genetics Supreme Court Case
• Boston Marathon: National Security Starts With You
• Investing in Agriculture

MEDIA JOBS

• Senior Investment Writer – Kiplinger's Personal Finance (DC)
• Publisher – New Mexico Magazine (NM)
• Beat Reporter – Rock Springs Newspaper (WY)

OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES

• Start Spreadin' the News!
• The Art of 'Casting' a Story
• Grammar Hammer: Get the Lead Out

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EXPERT ALERTS:

Myriad Genetics Supreme Court Case
Mark Janis, J.D.
Center for Intellectual Property Research Director
Indiana University Maurer School of Law
"Many have argued about what 'isolated' would mean in its biological sense, but that doesn't get us very far. Instead, the Court should recognize that it's dealing with a question about the meaning of a term of art in patent drafting, not about a term that can be defined precisely in science. The use of the word 'isolated' in the patent context is a longstanding drafting convention. It's a more elegant way of saying that whatever is being claimed, it's not the natural entity. The Court would be far better off dispensing with imponderables like the meaning of 'nature' and the scientific definition of 'isolated' and come to the case instead as a referendum on the common language of the patent community."
Intellectual property expert and professor Mark Janis is available to discuss the current Supreme Court case, "Association for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics" (arguments heard on April 15). According to Janis, who is also the Robert. A. Lucas Chair of Law, the case isn't about whether genes can be patented, but rather the definition of one word – isolate – as a term of patent law, and the Supreme Court should focus on that definition, rather than trying to retrofit a definition of isolation into a scientific context. Janis' biography can be seen here: http://bit.ly/17BHwts
Website: http://www.law.indiana.edu
Media Contact: Brianne O'Donnell, [email protected]

Boston Marathon: National Security Starts With You
Phrantceena Halres
CEO
Total Protection Services International
"The events that occurred at the Boston Marathon are an unfortunate, tragic reminder that as citizens we must always remain aware, alert and diligent. Individuals must hone a 'sixth sense' that helps them detect, anticipate, and plan for danger in advance of it happening. People innately know when something is wrong, dangerous, or just 'off' and in those situations it's imperative to take action rather than just brushing it off. Rather than taking panic-driven action when a catastrophic event occurs, we must collectively focus on preparedness and prevention. We need to teach every citizen that national security begins with them. With each act of terrorism, whether originating from foreign lands or homegrown, we tend to point the finger over who's not doing their job to keep us safe — but then complain about why we can't carry more than three ounces of sunscreen in our carryon bags catching a flight for vacation."
Halres is available to talk about what citizens can do so that they're taking the steps to ensure national security.
Media Contact: Merilee Kern, [email protected]

Investing in Agriculture
Matthew Stepp
Senior Policy Analyst
Information Technology and Innovation Foundation
"Climate change is a fact, and we need to focus public policy on adaptation strategies that can mitigate the impacts on systems such as agriculture." ITIF and the London School of Economics have released the new report, "Feeding the Planet in a Warming World," which calls for enhanced investment in agricultural innovation to address the impacts of climate change on food production.
Stepp is also the author of "Lean, Mean, and Clean II: Assessing DOD Investments in Clean Energy Innovation" and "Shifting Gears: Transcending Conventional Economic Doctrines to Develop Better Electric Vehicle Batteries." He is based in Washington, D.C.
ProfNet Profile: http://www.profnetconnect.com/matthewstepp
Website: http://www.itif.org
Expert Contact: [email protected]
Media Contact: William Dube, [email protected]

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MEDIA JOBS:

Following are links to job listings for staff and freelance writers, editors and producers. You can view these and more job listings on our Job Board: http://bit.ly/pncjobboard

• Senior Investment Writer – Kiplinger's Personal Finance (DC)
• Publisher – New Mexico Magazine (NM)
• Beat Reporter – Rock Springs Newspaper (WY)

See more listings here.

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OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES:

Following are links to other news and resources we think you might find useful. If you have an item you think other reporters would be interested in and would like us to include in a future alert, please drop us a line at [email protected]

• START SPREADIN' THE NEWS! Congratulations to ProfNet member Lorrie Thomas Ross, CEO of Web Therapy, who was featured in Times Square last week as part of our Facebook promotion. Want to know how you can be featured in Times Square? Visit http://bit.ly/15iigcn
• THE ART OF 'CASTING' A STORY: On Thursday, we co-hosted a freelancer meetup in New York City with Contently. Bob Van Voris, legal reporter at Bloomberg News, gave us a behind-the-scenes look at how he finds and manages expert sources for his stories. Here is a recap of the meetup: http://bit.ly/ZvYXUL
• GRAMMAR HAMMER: GET THE LEAD OUT: "Lead" and "led" is a grammatical speed bump that causes many people to pause. When should you use "lead" vs. "led"? Cathy Spicer, aka the Grammar Hammer, discusses the difference: http://bit.ly/ZlVwkv

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SOURCE ProfNet