Patenting rDNA: Human and Animal Biotechnology in the UK and Europe

The science that underpins the recent advances in biotechnology poses a series of problems for the existing systems of Intellectual Property protection. A heated public debate accompanied the adoption of the European Biotech Directive. What protection should be given to fruits of this new technology? Should ethical issues be dealt with by the patent system? How to encourage further research without at the same time discouraging competitors from further research? These are the main themes of this debate. In this book Amanda Warren reviews and analyses this debate, sets out the current legal issues and charts the development of the current practice of both the European Patent Office and how national courts have dealt with the issue of patentability, scope of protection and infringement.

· Short introduction to the science
· Discusses the ethical issues raised
· The positive and negative nature of the patent system
· Analyses the current scope of protection
· Reviews the EU and International Rules on Biotechnology

Essential reading for IP practitioners, Patent Attorneys, Legal Academics and Researchers, Regulatory Agencies