Beschreibung:
This book analyses the history of the international patent regime and the life science industries, both of which can be traced back to the late 19th century. The development of patent law is inextricably linked to expanding capacities to elucidate, manipulate and commercially exploit the molecular properties of micro-organisms, plants, animals and other organic raw materials.
Contents: Introduction; Intellectual property in the global economy: high stakes and propaganda warfare; Intellectual property and regulation theory; The emergence of modern patent law; Organic chemistry and the synthetic dyestuff industry; The pharmaceutical industry; Biotechnology, genomics and the new life science corporations; Plant breeding, the seed industry, and plant breeders' rights; Towards a global IP regime: trade and diplomacy; Forums of resistance?; Epilogue: the life science industries in a patent-free world; Bibliography; Indices.