Academic Knowledge, Patent Law and Ethics: A Fragile Relationship (Academische Kennis, Octrooirecht en Ethiek: Een Netelige Verkenning)

Van Overwalle, Geertrui

Academic Knowledge, Patent Law and Ethics: A Fragile Relationship (Academische Kennis, Octrooirecht en Ethiek: Een Netelige Verkenning)

Ethische Perspectieven, pp. 8-20, March-June 2003

32 Pages Posted: 3 Dec 2010

See all articles by Geertrui Van Overwalle

Geertrui Van Overwalle

KU Leuven - Centre for IT & IP Law (CiTiP)

Date Written: March-June 2003

Abstract

Recent technological innovations in the plant, animal and human realm call for further reflection. The present paper first discusses the patentability of such 'living' material. The paper then examines the scope of patents for biotechnological inventions. Last but not least, the paper focuses on the implications of innovations developed in a university context. Does academic knowledge have a different status than knowledge developed in an industrial context? Does academic knowledge require a different patent policy? What is the relationship between the role of the university as a knowledge incubator and the intellectual protection regime of this knowledge?

Note: Downloadable document is in Dutch.

Keywords: Patents, Academic knowledge, Biotechnological inventions, Universities

JEL Classification: I18, K11, O32, O34, H51

Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation

Van Overwalle, Geertrui, Academic Knowledge, Patent Law and Ethics: A Fragile Relationship (Academische Kennis, Octrooirecht en Ethiek: Een Netelige Verkenning) (March-June 2003). Ethische Perspectieven, pp. 8-20, March-June 2003. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1718668