While the traditional literature and the policy statements concerning standardization as such emphasize the benefits of standardization, the intellectual property and competition law literature and policymaking has been more critical of standardization. Intellectual property is relevant, as the...

Open innovation is the subject of increased scholarly debate. A lot of attention has thereby been paid to firm-centered open innovation, characterized by a for-profit motive and the interplay between patents and contracts, resulting in restricted openness. Inspired by the increasing call for...

Concerns have been raised that the upsurge of 3D printing technology would disrupt the patent system. The central question the present paper aims to address is whether and to what extent the emergence of 3D printing technology indeed urges us to rethink patent law. The paper splits up this...

The present paper discusses the decision earlier this year of Judge Robert W. Sweet of the District Court for the Southern District of New York to deny patent protection for isolated human genes and associated diagnostic methods. The case related to genetic tests for familial breast and ovarian...

In their animated book 'The Patent Crisis and How the Courts can Solve It', Dan Burk and Mark Lemley give an account of their quest into the judicial treatment of patents in different industry sectors. They present an in-depth commentary on industry specific differences in the patent system from...

Upon request of the Netherlands Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality a study has been conducted into the future of plant breeding in the light of developments around plant breeder’s rights and patent rights. The following questions were formulated: Present a review of the trends in...

The present report is based on an independent, policy-oriented investigation of the current European patent system. The central premise of the report is that the patent system has so far been a positive factor in promoting innovation and the diffusion of knowledge, and thus that the system is...

The exchange of patented inventions and related know-how often takes place through bilateral or cross licenses. Our previous research examined the role of collaborative licensing models in streamlining access and use of patents, specifically in the field in genetics. The present essay examines...

The present paper examines the last, quintessential steps in the parcours towards the final implementation of the EU Biotechnnology Directive in Belgian patent law. Whereas the first bill was hotly debated in parliament [see G. Van Overwalle, ‘Of Green Mice with Red Ears’,...

The present paper provides a thorough analysis of the genesis and content of the Belgian Bill of September 21 2004 implementing the EU Biotechnology. A careful comparison is made with the previous Bill of June 21 2002. Wide attention is also paid to the opinion of the Conseil d’ Etat regarding...