ABSTRACT
The pace of innovation in what some call a “mature” biotechnology industry,
now in its third decade, shows no signs of slowing. Biotechnological advances
are increasingly reflected in commercial products, including in the personal
care sector. This rapid growth has forced an equally dramatic evolution in the
patent law. Patents are now an essential feature of the biotech and high-tech land-
scape (1). The primary objective of this chapter is to provide a practical introduc-
tion to key concepts of U.S. patent law for scientists in the cosmetic and personal
care industry.
