人类胚胎干细胞专利面临的挑战。

Challenges to human embryonic stem cell patents.

作者信息

Plomer Aurora, Taymor Kenneth S, Scott Christopher Thomas

机构信息

Sheffield Institute of Biotechnological Law and Ethics, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 1FL, UK.

出版信息

Cell Stem Cell. 2008 Jan 10;2(1):13-7. doi: 10.1016/j.stem.2007.12.006.

DOI:10.1016/j.stem.2007.12.006

PMID:18371416

Abstract

The patenting of human embryonic stem (hES) cells has produced one of the most unusual and fraught situations in the history of science, ethics, and law. This Commentary examines legal and moral challenges to three foundational patents held by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF). We conclude that, in the United States, technical challenges may, paradoxically, produce a stronger patent position for WARF. In the European Union, moral challenges mean confusion for member states. We demonstrate that hES cell intellectual property will be guided and bound by a welter of moral, technical, and legal inputs, with discrete national and jurisdictional dimensions.

摘要

人类胚胎干细胞（hES）的专利引发了科学、伦理和法律史上最不同寻常且令人担忧的情况之一。本评论文章审视了威斯康星校友研究基金会（WARF）持有的三项基础专利所面临的法律和道德挑战。我们得出结论，在美国，具有讽刺意味的是，技术挑战可能会使WARF的专利地位更强。在欧盟，道德挑战给成员国带来了困惑。我们证明，hES细胞知识产权将受到大量道德、技术和法律因素的引导和约束，且具有不同的国家和管辖层面。