Patents protecting biotechnological invention are becoming ever more important. Because biotechnology has many differences with respect to other technologies, lessons learned in other fields of technology cannot simply be transferred to adopt a suitable strategy for dealing with biotechnology inventions. In this volume, general aspects of biopatent law will be discussed. This involves questions of patentability, including ethical issues and issues of technicality, as well as questions of patent exhaustion in cases were reproducible subject matter, like cells or seeds, is protected. Moreover, active and passive patent strategies are addressed. Further, insight will be given into patent lifetime management and additional protective measures, like supplementary protection certificates and data exclusivity. Here, strategies are discussed how market exclusivity can be extended as long as possible, which is particularly important for biopharmaceutical drugs, which create high R&D costs.

SpringerBriefs in Biotech Patents presents timely reports on intellectual properties (IP) issues and patent aspects in the field of biotechnology. This volume focus on particular aspects of the US patent law, which can have tremendous differences compared to the European law. This includes questions of biopatent prosecution, novelty, inventive step, written disclosure and sufficiency of enablement as well as questions of law enforcement of biotech patents.

As individuals and companies realise the importance of their inventions, issues surrounding patent laws and practices are taking centre stage around the world. This updated edition of the best selling book has been expanded to keep pace with modern day movements and addresses the global issue surrounding intellectual property. Including new information on areas such as software and biotechnology it shows the techniques that can be used by individuals and academic inventors to protect their work and is the ideal reference source. * Bridges the gap between the legal system and scientific research and avoids legal jargon * Details the reasons behind patents, their importance and relevance to all researchers and the strategy needed for filing for a patent * Focuses on the strategy and reasons rather than just being a textbook of patent law * Adopts a readable style that explains the basics right up to developing a strategy * Essential reading for all those who wish to keep pace and protect their work Reviews of the First Edition "...fulfills a most useful purpose, is soundly based and discusses patent strategy sensibly. I should like it to be compulsory reading for all newly-appointed research managers." S. M Scott - Research Policy "...should be recommended reading for both researchers and their managers, and those who work with them." Michael Blackman - Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology

SpringerBriefs in Biotech Patents presents timely reports on intellectual properties (IP) issues and patent aspects in the field of biotechnology. This volume focus on particular aspects of the US patent law, which can have tremendous differences compared to the European law. This includes questions of biopatent prosecution, novelty, inventive step, written disclosure and sufficiency of enablement as well as questions of law enforcement of biotech patents.

"Strategies for business to use patents to make money, software patents, business method patents internet patents. Patent asset management."

SpringerBriefs in Biotech Patents presents timely reports on intellectual properties (IP) issues and patent aspects in the field of biotechnology. In this volume the limits of patentability are addressed, a question that is often raised when it comes to biotechnological inventions: The first section addresses current issues in the patentability of plants produced by essentially biological processes including the controversy between farmer’s privilege and patent exhaustion with respect to seeds in the US. The second section examines the patentability of human embryonic stem cells in Europe and the US, also considering alternative technologies with respect to their practicability and patentability. The third section focuses on the patentability of genes and nucleic acids, especially the issue of patenting of encoding genes and nucleic acids.

The ambiguity and uncertainty inherent in the field ofgenetic science poses challenges in the application oftraditional patent principles to genetic inventions. Thisbook unravels the complex doctrines of Patent Law.