Life Patents: The Answers to the Moral Questions

Abstract:     
Genetically modified transgenic mice, human clones, part-human, part-animal creatures. These are just a few of the morally controversial biotech inventions that have garnered public attention in recent years. The moral controversies surrounding these and other biotech inventions stem from several concerns including those arising from the mixing of human and animal species, the perceived denigration of human dignity, the destruction of human life, the exploitation of women for their eggs, and the concept of ownership of humans. The debate with regard to the immorality of life patents is not new; several moral objections have been raised time to time by several factions of people and stakeholders against the grant of patents on life forms. Morality is not an issue for the corporate players, they are least bothered about the moral and ethical considerations which need to be scrutinized while asking for a patent by them, Rather, they focus on the economic viability and marketing potential of a particular product or process on which they seek protection. The present article Life Patents: The Answers to the Moral Questions focuses on the ethical and moral considerations attached with patenting of life, especially higher life and the ways that could be useful in settling the present controversies in this regard.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 16

Keywords: Life Patents, Biotechnology, Morality, Moral issues in Patenting of life

JEL Classification: J78, K19, K29

working papers series