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Book
Intellectual Property and Biotechnology: Biological Inventions
(2008)
  • Matthew Rimmer, Australian National University College of Law
Abstract
"Dr Rimmer's book is a marvellous introduction to a crucial topic of our time. He writes engagingly, provocatively and always with good humour. A highly technical and complex area of law has been reduced to clear descriptions and searching analysis. Truly, this is an important book on an essential topic that will help define the ethics of a future that includes nothing less than the future of our species."
Foreword by The Hon Justice Michael Kirby AC CMG of the High Court of Australia
This book documents and evaluates the dramatic expansion of intellectual property law to accommodate various forms of biotechnology from micro-organisms, plants, and animals to human genes and stem cells. It makes a unique theoretical contribution to the controversial public debate over the commercialisation of biological inventions.
The author also considers the contradictions between the Supreme Court of Canada rulings in respect of the Harvard Oncomouse, and genetically modified canola. He explores law, policy, and practice in both Australia and New Zealand in respect to gene patents and non-coding DNA. This study charts the rebellion against the European Union Biotechnology Directive - particularly in respect of Myriad Genetics' BRCA1 and BRCA2 patents, and stem cell patent applications. The book also considers whether patent law will accommodate frontier technologies - such as bioinformatics, haplotype mapping, proteomics, pharmacogenomics, and nanotechnology.
Intellectual Property and Biotechnology will be of prime interest to lawyers and patent attorneys, scientists and researchers, business managers and technology transfer specialists.
Introduction
1. Anything Under the Sun: Patent Law and Micro-Organisms
2. Franklin Barley: Patent Law and Plant Breeder’s Rights
3. The Human Chimera Patent Initiative: Patent Law and Animals
4. The Storehouse of Knowledge: Patent Law, Scientific Discoveries, and Products of Nature
5. The Book of Life: Patent Law and the Human Genome Project
6. The Dilettante’s Defence: Patent Law, Research Tools, and Experimental Use
7. The Utah Saints: Patent Law and Genetic Testing
8. The Alchemy of Junk: Patent Law and Non-Coding DNA
9. Still Life with Stem Cells: Patent Law and Human Embryos
Conclusion. Blue Sky Research: Patent Law and Frontier Technologies
Reviews
"Rimmer’s new book is a timely and very thought-provoking analysis of patent law and biotechnology and asks a very serious question: can a 19th century patent system adequately deal with a 21st century industry".
Kate McDonald, Australian Life Scientist
"Rimmer’s book provides a valuable resource in addressing these questions and incorporates an extensive bibliography and several annotated chapters that run the gambit from stem cells to medical diagnostics. He utilises a strongly comparative approach, often first tracing the historical development of certain basic patent doctrines, and analysing the approach various jurisdictions, generally Canada, the US, and Australia, have taken with regards to biological inventions... Throughout Rimmer presents a panorama of some of the most important issues related to patents and biotechnology. A reader will likely be intrigued to see which way the pendulum swings on these issues in the near future. In conclusion, Rimmer’s book is highly recommended for anyone interested in the issues and debate related to biological inventions, regardless of which side the reader is on."
Stefan Miller, Journal of Commercial Biotechnology
"This book gives an excellent account of the most celebrated biotechnology cases from three continents, and for this alone is to be thoroughly recommended. Intellectual property practitioners, who do not agree with the author's conclusions, should be able and willing to say why - only then can the patent profession itself play a role in influencing public opinion on these controversial issues."
David Rogers, the European Intellectual Property Review.
"Considering the technical nature of the topic and the unfamiliarity with its vocabulary to most readers, the author has done an extremely good job. He explains the subject in an open, accessible manner and leads the reader from the known to the unknown rather than dropping him into the middle of it. "
Jeremy Phillips, IP Kat
"Rimmer seeks to air the theories that abound, discuss them and see not only what he concludes himself from his extensive reading and research (the bibliography runs to an impressive 55 pages), but also to throw out some questions to the reader. He includes some fun and diverting quotes... Rimmer has put a great deal of thought and effort into this series of chapters. For those looking at how to reform, direct and develop laws in relation to biotechnology, this book is brimming with ideas, suggestions and recommendations of what to do next."
Rebecca Halford-Harrison, the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents Journal
Keywords
  • Patent Law,
  • Micro-organisms,
  • Plant Breeders' Rights,
  • GM Crops,
  • Transgenic animals,
  • Human-Animal Chimera,
  • Scientific Discoveries,
  • Abstract Ideas,
  • Methods of Human Treatment,
  • Gene Patents,
  • Expressed Sequence Tags,
  • Research Tools,
  • Experimental Use,
  • Safe Harbour,
  • Pharmaceutical Drugs,
  • Genetic Testing,
  • Stem Cell Research,
  • Therapeutic Cloning,
  • Bioinformatics,
  • Proteomics,
  • Pharmacogenomics,
  • Nanotechnology.
Disciplines
Publication Date
January, 2008
Publisher
Edward Elgar
Citation Information
Matthew Rimmer. Intellectual Property and Biotechnology: Biological Inventions. Cheltenham, UK, and Northampton, MA, USA: Edward Elgar.(2008)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/matthew_rimmer/22/