Intellectual Property Issues and Synthetic Biology Standards

Abstract

In response to a recent article describing the Synthetic Biology Open Language (SBOL), a mechanism for enabling collaboration among synthetic biology researchers, the authors draw attention to the growing number of intellectual property issues that may affect technical standards for biomedical research. They point out that similar data exchange and interoperability frameworks in fields such as telecommunications and semiconductors have been fraught with patent disputes. They urge the biomedical research community to take heed of the lessons learned from other fields and give due consideration to policies concerning the use and exploitation of patents prior to the development of key interoperability standards.

Keywords: standards, patent, synthetic biology, FRAND