Laboratory management of intellectual property in biotechnology.

摘要

Intellectual property (IP) rights refer to property rights in the intellectual creations of inventors and artists. Some IP rights are sanctioned by the US Constitution as an economic incentive to stimulate innovation. Other intellectual property rights are judicially created to protect and promote ethical commercial activities. Societal benefits and costs are inherent to each. This paper discusses fundamental aspects of IP protection, and the costs and benefits which apply to both the inventor andsociety. Practical guidelines are provided for managing the day to day operations of a laboratory to maximize IP rights derived from research endeavours.