The Evolving Role of History in the Past, Present, and Future of Psychedelic Patenting
History of Pharmacy and Pharmaceuticals October 1, 2023 Shahin Shams, Amanda Rose Pratt, Sisi Li et al. 4 citations
The resurgence of mainstream psychedelic research has led to capitalist interest in patenting to exclude competitors, with some exploiting the process to monopolize well-established knowledge through overly broad claims. Historical psychedelic prior art—evidence that something claimed is already known—is critical for preventing such patents, but because some prior art exists in nontraditional forms, patent examiners may miss it, resulting in erroneously granted patents. Organizations and activists introduce historical prior art directly to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, while the online library Porta Sophia curates archival prior art for examiners and innovators. Ensuring an equitable landscape is essential for research and protecting vulnerable communities with cultural ties to psychedelics.