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Intellectual Property Law

University of Washington School of Law

Articles

1980

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Full-Text Articles in Law

The Patentability Of Living Microorganisms: Diamond V. Chakrabarty, Daniel H. Foote Jan 1980

The Patentability Of Living Microorganisms: Diamond V. Chakrabarty, Daniel H. Foote

Articles

Microbiologists have made great advances in modifying gene structures to create new forms of life. In Diamond v. Chakrabarty, the Supreme Court addressed for the first time the patentability of a living microorganism. In a 5-4 decision that has been condemned as heralding the advent of Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, the Court held that the living nature of a microorganism is no bar to patenting it.