Dr. Roberto Zayas gave a seminar titled "It's lack of innovation, stupid" about patents. He discussed how patents give exclusive rights to inventors for 20 years in exchange for publicly disclosing their inventions. Patents are increasing in the US, especially for computer software. Dr. Zayas related patents to science, mentioning a case where researchers tried to patent human genes. Patents are generally good for science and the economy by incentivizing investment, but there are limits, such as not allowing the modification of human genes or patenting someone's DNA without consent. The student found Dr. Zayas' combination of a PhD and law degree inspiring and the seminar topic interesting because it showed the connection

1. Eduardo E. Rivera Cintrón
November 11, 2011
Reflection on seminar/discussion on Roberto Zayas
Dr. Roberto Zayas was our guest for our last seminar this semester. He shared a
topic with us that are not mentioned a lot in the science field like the patents. The
title of Dr. Zayas seminar was: “It’s lack of innovation, stupid”. Dr. Roberto Zayas
after completing his PhD in Neuroscience decided to achieve a Law degree; which I
found very interesting the combination of PhD degree with a Law degree.
In the seminar, Dr. Zayas mainly talked about the concept of a patent. A patent is
granted to a person, who invents something new and unique. It gives exclusively the
right for a period of 20 years in exchange public disclosure of the invention when
the period expires. Currently in the United States the grant of patents is increasing
like never before especially in the area of computer software.
In our discussing in class he abounded more in the topic of the patents relating it
with the science. One of the cases he mentioned and shared was the case of how
investigators wanted to patent human genes and how the court upholds that
decision.
So far, patents are good for science and also for the economy. The economy
increases through the investor that gives certain amount of money to obtain the
license of the patents. On the other hand, it also has his implication in terms of
“everything has a limit”. Patents are good but not in a way that the people want to

2. use it in modification of human genes or in a way that if you take my DNA you apply
for a patent.
As an overall point of view I extremely loved the seminar and discussion because
the topic was completely different. I considered that the interesting part of the
seminar was how the science is also related to the law in terms of patents. Indirectly
Dr. Zayas can inspire anyone because he was able to obtain a Law degree after
completing a PhD. Dr. Zayas showed us as students that there is a great potential in
the field of Science and opportunities to expand and combine our careers as
professional people. Everything can be obtained if the person pursues, puts effort,
comprise itself, and determines the importance of their career.