Are Intellectual Property Rights Laws holding back progress of science? Yes, argues John Sulston and Joseph Stiglitz in their letter to TIMES. [John Sulston, (Novel prize winner and Chair, Institute for Science, Ethics and Innovation, University of Manchester) along with Joseph Stiglitz (Chair, Brooks World Poverty Institute, University of Manchester) In a letter "Science is being held back by outdated laws" to TIMES <http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/letters/article4271555.ece>] They say, .."The ideal shared by almost all scientists is that science should be open and transparent, not just in its practices and procedures, but so that the results and the knowledge generated through research should be freely accessible to all. There is a broad consensus in the scientific community that such openness and transparency promotes the advancement of science and enhances the likelihood that the benefits of science are enjoyed by all. For more than a hundred years, these principles have been the bedrock of academia and the scientific community".. --Sukhdev Singh, NIC. -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.