Patenting in biotechnology: a review of the 20th symposium of ECB8

The patenting of biotechnological inventions is practically in harmony with the general requirements of patent protection. It stands still in the foreground of interests since this is the only technical field where the living material itself may be the subject matter of patents. In consequence ethical problems have arisen first of all in the patenting of human cells and genes in which there is no agreement between R&D firms, patent offices and green movements. This has called for the elaboration of special Directives. On the other hand, patent systems are instrumental in safeguarding biodiversity. This review gives a picture of the patenting situation in biotechnology in the European Patent Office and in Hungary, the host country of the Congress. It also gives practical advice to biotechnological researchers on how to draft the applications and to observe the time limits, as well as on the necessity and possibilities of the deposit of microorganisms.