> If they chose not to use it, they can sell it to someone who will
You're assuming that someone else can make it work financially in the original domain, but what if no one can?
The IP may have value in other domains, but you seem to be saying that it goes into the public domain if no one can make it work in the original domain.
If that's the rule on IP with medical uses, medical applications just went to the bottom of the list of uses. In fact, you'd be stupid to go for a medical application of IP that is used elsewhere.
You're assuming that someone else can make it work financially in the original domain, but what if no one can?
The IP may have value in other domains, but you seem to be saying that it goes into the public domain if no one can make it work in the original domain.
If that's the rule on IP with medical uses, medical applications just went to the bottom of the list of uses. In fact, you'd be stupid to go for a medical application of IP that is used elsewhere.