Nanotechnology Law and Guidelines

This book presents concise guidelines on different issues concerning nanotechnology in European legislation and offers an extensive review of all European Patent Office (EPO) cases on nanotechnological inventions. The challenge for new nanotechnology patents is to determine how patent criteria can be met in the patent application. The book shows how to identify suitable approaches to and the ways of overcoming this challenge. It extensively reviews trademark cases at the EU level and provides an in-depth perspective on competition law and state aid law (mergers, essential facilities licenses, public funding). It also presents an original corporate, tax and finance approach within the current EU legal framework. Not limited to an overview of applicable legislation, it offers practical tips on how to cope with the current legislation, e.g. how to deal with the risk defence under the product liability directive (implemented in 25 out of 28 EU member states); or how to deal with the chemical agents directive and adopt internal policies for nanoparticles. It also examines numerous examples of contract clauses and advertising texts that would be appropriate for marketing products involving nanotechnologies. Lastly, the book considers marketing aspects such as advertising, codes of conduct and import/export regulations.