Why are companys forced by low to let people make generic versions?!

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

errr they aren't. What on earth thinks they are?

What does happen however is that the patent expires leaving it up to other companies to decide whether or not they with to make a generic copy. Same as with all patents, they expire. It's nothing to do with the law forcing a company to allow others to make generic stuff though, it's just thw law stating how long IP protection lasts.

Hm. Nitram has an answer that might apply, but I'm wondering if perhaps you are seeing those drug commercials on TV that chime "if you are having a hard time paying for your prescription medications we might be able to help"...blah, blah, blah.

Pharmaceutical companies here are required by law to make (a percentage of) the results of research done with public funds (i.e. federal money) available to the public, if that public can demonstrate that they 1) have need and 2) the inability to pay for the results of that research.

For the folks who aren't from here - here is an example
http://www.astrazeneca-us.com/help-affor…

It looks like they are doing this as altruists - it's not.

Happy New Year All

The companies aren't just given the recipe and are told to make them. They make these generics of their own accord, by studying the drug in question in their own labs and recreating it themselves.