Sixteen contributions from Rothschild (animal science, Iowa State U.), Newman (a geneticist with PIC USA) and other researchers and academics address problems surrounding intellectual property rights in animal breeding and genetics. Particular attention is paid to the role of intellectual property rights in the business of animal genetic improvement. Topics include, for example, the economic costs and benefits of patents, protecting intellectual property on a global basis, and ethical issues related to gene modification. Distributed by Oxford University Press. Annotation (c) Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Intellectual property and patents involving animals is an ever-changing field. The purpose of this book is to review the role that intellectual property plays in the development of modern animal breeding and genetics. It includes discussion of the history of animal patenting, common forms of intellectual property, economic issues related to patent protection and the funding of research, ethical issues, and the consequences of intellectual property in the modern animal genetics market place.