In October 2020, Reuters published an article titled “Fact Check: Rothschild did not patent a test for COVID-19 in 2015 and 2017,” aiming to debunk claims circulating online about a supposed patent for a COVID-19 test filed by Richard A. Rothschild. The article asserts that no such patent exists from those years and dismisses the claims as misleading. However, a closer look at the patent in question, US-2020279585-A1 reveals details that challenge Reuters’ narrative and raise questions about the accuracy of their fact-checking.

The Reuters Claim

Reuters’ article, published on October 27, 2020, addresses social media posts alleging that Richard A. Rothschild patented a COVID-19 testing method in 2015 and 2017.

The outlet categorically denies this, stating, “There is no evidence that a patent for a COVID-19 test was filed in 2015 or 2017 by Richard Rothschild or anyone else.” They argue that the patent referenced (US-2020279585-A1) was filed in 2020 and does not explicitly mention COVID-19, suggesting the claims are a distortion of facts. Reuters further implies that the timing and context of the patent filings do not align with the conspiracy theories circulating online.

• Reuters’ Claim: On October 27, 2020, Reuters stated there’s “no evidence” that Richard A. Rothschild filed a patent for a COVID-19 test in 2015 or 2017, asserting no such patent exists from those years.
• Patent Records Contradict Reuters: Patent US-2020279585-A1, titled “System and Method for Testing for COVID-19,” lists Rothschild as the inventor. PubChem and Google Patents confirm a priority filing date of October 13, 2015, with additional filings in 2017, directly challenging Reuters’ denial.
• Reuters’ Oversight: By claiming no patent was filed in 2015 or 2017, Reuters overlooked verifiable public records, undermining the credibility of their fact-check.
• COVID-19 Context: The 2015 and 2017 filings didn’t mention “COVID-19,” as the virus wasn’t identified until late 2019. The patent was later updated to include COVID-19 testing, published in 2020, a detail Reuters downplayed.
• Misleading Focus: Reuters focused narrowly on the absence of “COVID-19” in the original filings, sidestepping the significance of the early filing dates and creating an incomplete picture of the patent’s timeline.
• Why It Matters: The patent’s 2015 and 2017 filings raise valid questions about its scope and evolution, which Reuters’ fact-check fails to address fully.

Reuters’ dismissal of the Rothschild patent claims missed the mark by ignoring documented filing dates.

The patent, titled “System and Method for Testing for COVID-19,” is publicly accessible on PubChem, a database maintained by the National Library of Medicine. It is listed under patent number US-2020279585-A1