Bioethics and the Patent Eligibility of Human Embryonic Stem Cells-Related Inventions in Europe

The topic of this book is one of the most contentious, complex and at the same time very important in many respects. Latest achievements in the biotechnology industry related to the stem cell technology are quite important.

On the one hand, human embryonic stem cells are viewed as strong tools to be applied for curing or at least alleviating of until now not curable illnesses, such as Alzheimer, Parkinson, Multiple Sclerosis, etc. On the other, hand whenever research in human embryos is at hand, strong ethical and moral issues are involved and constitute formidable challenges for researchers as well as for lawyers, but also for public at large and their many stakeholders. Therefore, the patent eligibility of hESC-related inventions creating a tempestuous nexus between the patent law and stem cell technology is analyzed in this book with a special focus to the latest judiciary development in Europe especially about the Dr. Brüstle’s invention in the field of stem cell technology.