Abstract
For centuries the mechanism of the patent has been extremely useful to adequately reconcile the interests of the inventor with the society in which the task is developed. The result of its existence has been the creation of a favorable scenario for the exploitation of human ingenuity, spurred by the possibility of obtaining individual benefit, which is compatible with the collective management of the benefits of their innovation. However, current developments in science question the validity of this framework. Hence, the realisation of a thorough analysis of the paradigm of intellectual property protection currently in force is of particular importance. This text aims to shed some light in this regard. In order to maximize its clarity, it has been structured into several sections. Its first section is devoted to the analysis of current regulations regarding synthetic biology, emphasizing its essential characteristics. Subsequently, some considerations will be included on one of its most controversial aspects, which refers to the “moral clause”. Finally, it introduces some considerations on the issue of synthetic biology and its place in the patent legal system.
This paper has been partially published in: Romeo Casabona, C. M., “La promoción de las innovaciones tecnológicas, un desafío económico y jurídicos para las Biopatentes”, Teoría y Derecho. Revista de Pensamiento Jurídico. Número titulado Biotecnología y Derecho. Encuentros y Desencuentros. Junio 11/2012, pp. 95–111, and in: “Synthetic Biology. A joint report by the Spanish Bioethics Committee and the Portuguese National Ethics Council for the Life Sciences”, at: http://www.comitedebioetica.es/documentacion/docs/en/Synthetic_Biology_CBE-CNECV.pdf
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The EPO accepted, even prior to the approval of the Directive 98/44/CE, the patentability of some human proteins (i. e., relaxin). OEP, resolution, 18 January 1995.
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Casabona, C.M.R. (2014). Patentability, Synthetic Biology and Human Genome. In: de Miguel Beriain, I., Romeo Casabona, C. (eds) Synbio and Human Health. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9196-0_11
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9196-0_11
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