Google Doodle - Honoring Fredrick Banting's Birthday, Discovery of Insulin and Patenting a Method of Extracting Insulin

November 14, 2016 marks Sir Fredrick Branting's 125th Birthday.  Banting was born on November 14, 1891 in Ontario, Canada.  By his early 30's, he had discovered that isolated insulin could be a diabetes treatment.  He published his findings and patented his invention. 

In 1921, Banting hypothesized that an isolate of the pancreas, insulin, could be used to treat diabetes.  Banting approached J.J.R. Macleod, a metabolism and diabetes physician, who offered Banting the opportunity to conduct experiments at the University of Toronto.

At the UnIversity, Charles Best, a senior in the physiology and biochemistry programs, was assigned to Banting and they began their experiments in the summer of 1921.  In December 1921, Banting, Best and Macleod had an extract from whole beef pancreas mixed with alcohol that lowered the blood glucose levels in a dog with  the pancreas removed.  James Bertram Colllip then helped the team purify the insulin extract.

In March 1922, the team published their preliminary finding in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, "Pancreatic extract in the treatment of diabetes mellitus."  

Banting, Best and Collip filed a U.S. patent application for a method of extracting insulin from a pancreas on January 12, 1923.  US Patent 1,469,994 issued on October 9, 1923 and Canadian Patent 234,336 issued on September 19, 1923.

Later in 1923, Banting and Macleod were awarded the Nobel Prize in medicine for the discovery of insulin.  Banting felt as though Best, and not Macleod should have shared the nobel prize with him and Banting split his prize with Best.  Macleod then announced that he would share his nobel award with Collip.

Sir Fredrick Banting is honored for his contribution to improving the lives of those living with diabetes.  He also serves as a reminder to protect your inventions through patents and be aware of disputes that can arise between individuals who would like to be a part of the credit, publications and inventions.

Savor the Flavor of Your Star Trek Fan Film While You Can....

And why is that? Because according to CBS and Paramount and the legal rules they've stipulated regarding Star Trek fan films, you never know when they're going to pull the plug on the stipulations! Yes, it's true: they might actually change their minds and not let ANYONE film fan features of Star Trek. Call that a violation of the prime directive if you will....

It Does, However, Make Sense: After All, They Own the Rights to Star Trek!

It would, therefore, do you well to observe all of these rules in full effect and hope to the Klingon gods that others follow the same suit. Things get out of hand, and CBS and Paramount might just overturn the entire thing, seize all fan films as products belonging to them, and you're left up a creek.

Don't believe us? Here's the actual rhetoric delivered by CBS and Paramount, just to make sure it's legal for you:

"CBS and Paramount Pictures reserve the right to revise, revoke and/or withdraw these guidelines at any time in their own discretion. These guidelines are not a license and do not constitute approval or authorization of any fan productions or a waiver of any rights that CBS or Paramount Pictures may have with respect to fan fiction created outside of these guidelines."

That's what's so amazing about trademark, copyright and patent law....

They Can Allow Whatever They Want With the Option That They Can Take It All Away at Any Time

All the more reason for you to observe the law. Follow it. Cross your t's and dot your i's. Because you'll never know when you'll need some humpback whales to communicate to some deadly alien probe and save the planet.

(The crazy thing is this fan film really isn't a fan film at all! But it might as well be. You'll see some familiar faces in this particular web episode!)

For All Star Trek Fan Filmmakers: Disclaimers Are Your Friend

If there's anything you ever have to know about the law -- especially with respect to trademark law, copyright law, and patent law -- it's this: when it's written on paper, it's binding. Or in this case, when it's displayed, it's binding. Nothing can break it. Nothing can overturn it. It is, in effect, law.

That's Why as a Filmmaker for Star Trek Fan Creations, Making Sure You Communicate Exactly What Your Project Is Will Save You from Legal Trouble

This is especially the case regarding the law and the rules both Paramount of CBS have put in place to keep Star Trek fan filmmakers in check when uploading their own creations. Yes, you've got to be careful with what you're doing. Productions that literally have nothing to do with the rightful holders of the franchise may end up confusing the masses, especially if you're using a lot of memorabilia that even looks like it comes from the official brand.

This is why a disclaimer's always a great way to go before your Star Trek fan film actually starts off. Think Star Wars, for instance, and the common adage you see before the credits roll:

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away....

Ominous. Foreboding. Fantastic. But you get the picture! The disclaimer is exactly the same thing, just different words. What CBS and Paramount want you do anywhere during the on-screen credits, or before, or after (or all of the above) is to state these exact words:

"Star Trek and all related marks, logos and characters are solely owned by CBS Studios Inc. This fan production is not endorsed by, sponsored by, nor affiliated with CBS, Paramount Pictures, or any other Star Trek franchise, and is a non-commercial fan-made film intended for recreational use. No commercial exhibition or distribution is permitted. No alleged independent rights will be asserted against CBS or Paramount Pictures."

It's a Mouthful (or a Screenful), Yes....

But legally it's necessary. This is to protect the rights of Paramount and CBS, and to also protect you in the event Paramount or CBS want to be dumb and try and take action on you for copyright infringement.

Basically put, as long as you have that disclaimer on there, you're golden. You may even be able to pass the speed of Warp 10. You never know. It could happen.

(There are A LOT of these Star Trek fan films.... Just FYI. They almost multiply like Tribbles.)