[Legal protection of industry and animal welfare--legal and ethical problems]

The first animal patent for the so called "Harvard-onco-mouse" has been widely discussed in the media and in public respectively. The opinion of veterinarians on animal patents should be based as far as possible on objective information, such as the legal situation and consideration of ethical discussion. The paper contains information on the following subjects: definition, aim and purpose of patents, patentability of microorganisms and genes, animal patents, animal rights and patents, ethics and animal patents.