

They’re not assholes. If this is the work of the federal gouvernment then they’re just following the law.
A work of the United States government is defined by the United States copyright law, as “a work prepared by an officer or employee of the United States Government as part of that person’s official duties”.[1] Under section 105 of the Copyright Act of 1976,[2] such works are not entitled to domestic copyright protection under U.S. law and are therefore in the public domain.
Interesting question. Altough trying this with HIV first is a good first choice in term of priority.