Biotechnology Needs 21st Century Patent System: Expert

With the progress in biotechnology and other inventions and discoveries in science, the issue of patents always come up. In the field of biotechnology, patent system is always a problem since most countries developed their patent systems during the industrial revolution when knowledge of man-made microorganisms, GM plants, the human genome and stem cells were still not in existence.

Dr. Matthew Rimmer of the Australian National University College of Law and author of the book "Intellectual Property and Biotechnology: Biological Inventions" says that, "the patent systems should provide protections around inventions provided they satisfy criteria to do with novelty, an inventive step and utility." This will allow freedom for researchers to take full advantage of experimental use and creative innovation, and minimize control over living things by a selected few. There should be a greater scope for challenges to patent applications and a legal defense of experimentation.  

For details, please see the media release at: http://www.researchaustralia.com.au/files/ANU_biotech_patent_17_03_08.pdf