evidence: Attaran is co-author of a new study that surveyed patent coverage for AIDS drugs in Africa (JAMA286, 1886; 2001). His findings cast further doubt on the idea that patents are the key barrier to stopping the African AIDS epidemic, as Africa has only 22% of the possible patent coverage for AIDS drugs. Moreover, according to Attaran, "even in the cases where there are patents on drugs ... in every single one of those cases there is a discount or donation offer in force [from the manufacturer]." [...] Meanwhile, the US government has offered a compromise on patents: the Bush administration says that for the next five years, it will not pursue legal action against South Africa if that country violates AIDS drug patents held by US companies. But it is unclear what effect this measure will ultimately have, as South African president Thabo Mbeki has consistently refused to endorse anti-HIV drugs (Nature Med.7, 1170; 2001). [...] Nature Medicine (Nat Med)