ABSTRACT
Abstract ................................................................................................. 298 10.1 Introduction ................................................................................ 298 10.2 Historical Development of IP Laws ........................................... 299 10.3 Patent and Biotechnology .......................................................... 300 10.4 Patenting on Microbial Biotechnology ...................................... 302 10.5 Patents on Animal Biotechnology .............................................. 303 10.6 Patenting on Plant Biotechnology .............................................. 304 10.7 What are Patentable in the Field of Biotechnology?.................. 305 10.8 What is a Gene Patent? .............................................................. 306 10.9 Global Scenario on Patentability of Genes ................................ 307 10.10 Perspective on Gene Patenting in Agriculture ......................... 310
10.11 Impact of Gene Patenting on Agricultural Research and Development ............................................................................ 312
10.12 Conclusion ............................................................................... 314 Keywords .............................................................................................. 314 References ............................................................................................. 314
ABSTRACT
The patentability of genes has been a controversial issue that impacts ethics, legality, and scientific research and development globally. Agricultural research and development do not remain untouched, as many private firms like Aventis, Dow Chemical, DuPont, Monsanto, and Syngenta are now holding a large chunk of agricultural patents. The example of gene patenting issues involving Bt Cotton (Monsanto, USA) and Golden rice (developed by Swiss and German scientists) have raised world’s ethical and legal concerns. One of the apprehensions is that patent granted for genes will give monopoly to institutions and private companies; as consequence, a huge sum of money will be charged by them as license fee for use by others. The counter argument put forth is that it saves time, funds, and effort of two or more groups working on the same gene. The patent, in essence, is a safeguard against copying, selling, and making profit out of others’ innovations involving huge investment of money, time, and human efforts. At the same time, it hinders the progress of scientific research and development by debarring the access to scientific data and research material, which otherwise could be of use for further development. Taken together, pros and cons of patenting genes with agricultural perspective, it should be ethically guided and humanwelfare oriented rather than targeted toward making profits.
