title: Product patents on human DNA sequences: where do we stand in Europe?
abstract: In July 1998, the Directive 98/44/EC was adopted by the competent European Community bodies. It should have been implemented into national laws of the member states by the end of July 2000. So far, however, most member states missed that deadline. One reason for resistance and hesitations are concerns about potential negative effects of product patents based on gene sequences. Reasons for this situation are analysed and solutions sought for minimising the prospects of increasing dependencies on dominant patents on genes.
authors.affiliation: Managing Board, Munich Intellectual Property Law Centre, Marstallplatz 1, 80539 Munich, Germany. J.Straus@ip.mpg.de
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Straus
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D001709:Biotechnology; D004247:DNA; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D010330:Patents as Topic / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*
chemical_list: D004247:DNA