The Role of Nigerian Patents Law in Biotechnology Transfer

Abstract

The advancement in technology, particularly in unraveling the biological intricacies of nature has brought about development of new products and processes useful to human, animal, plants and the environment. Biotechnology is an invention in its own right and patents law protects and makes available details of such invention. Patent system is concerned with transferring biotechnology from the industrialized nations to the less industrialized nations. Effective biotechnology transfer is enhanced and maintained by adequate facilities and sophisticated technology  know-how, and patents law that conforms with the technological realities of the time. Nigerian as a developing country lacks adequate facilities like laboratories, good research and development policies, technological know-how and adequate patents law for protection of inventions.

Keywords: Biotechnology, Patents, inventive aclivity, bimolecular processes, Invention, law.