Patenting and DNA

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 the 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? These are the main themes of this debate. In this book the author 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 issues of patentability, scope of protection and infringement.