Patentability and Morality.: A Comparative Perspective on How Legal Culture Shapes Morality within Patent Law.(22 Studien zum vergleichenden Privatrecht - Studies in Comparative Private Law)

The thesis is dedicated to the question of how legal culture affects the perception of morality in patent law regimes and whether a better understanding of the terms can ease their complex relationship. To this end, the role of moral considerations in European, German, US and Chinese patent law is analyzed. The analysis shows the unique and paradoxical relationship between immorality and illegality in patent law compared to other areas of law. Furthermore, it is found that the interpretation of the fundamental function of patent law significantly influences the understanding of morality in patent law. Therefore, a moral standard in patent law cannot be identified universally across different patent law systems. Consequently, (legal) cultural aspects must always be included in the interpretation of patent law. Ultimately, aspects of legal culture and societal interests can be balanced in a proportionality approach.

Table of Contents:
A. Introductory Remarks Research Questions and Scientific Interest – Methodology and Content – Overview of Sources B. The Interplay of Technology and Morality Examples of Recent Technological Development with Moral Considerations – Potential Moral Considerations with Regard to Modern Weapon Technology – Conclusion C. Moral Considerations in Patentability in European and German Patent Law Art. 27 (2) TRIPS and Respective Regulations – Ordre Public and Morality on a European Level – Fundamental Considerations of Morality in German Legal Literature – Commercial Exploitation as a Requirement of Moral Violations – Conclusion D. Patentability and Moral Concerns in U.S. Patent Law Historic Development – Rise of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering – The Role of Human Dignity in the U.S. Patent System – Differences in Judicial Arguments – Morality and Patentability in Relation to State Powers – Conclusion and Recommendations E. Morality and Patentability in Chinese Patent Law Chinese Legal Culture and Patent Law – Development of Patentability Concerns in China – Morality and Chinese Legal Culture – Conclusion F. Summary and Comprehensive Assessment G. Bibliography Index

About the Author :
Dr. Stefan Papastefanou is a lecturer and research fellow at the Center for Transnational IP, Media and Technology Law and Policy at Bucerius Law School, Hamburg, Germany and a Visiting Scholar at the Applied Research Centre for Intellectual Assets and the Law in Asia (ARCIALA) at the Singapore Managemant University. His research focus lies on International IP relationships and comparative legal analysis of modern technology and recent developments within the digital environment, such as NFTs, blockchain and AI research. Next to his teaching and research positions, Dr. Stefan Papastefanou is an attorney working at the Hamburg office at White & Case LLP in the IP/IT Department. Dr. Stefan Papastefanou ist Dozent und Research Fellow am Center for Transnational IP, Media and Technology Law and Policy an der Bucerius Law School in Hamburg und Visiting Scholar am Applied Research Centre for Intellectual Assets and the Law in Asia (ARCIALA) an der Singapore Managemant University. Sein Forschungsschwerpunkt liegt auf internationalen IP-Beziehungen und der rechtsvergleichenden Analyse moderner Technologien und aktueller digitaler Entwicklungen, wie NFTs, Blockchain und KI-Forschung. Neben seiner Lehr- und Forschungstätigkeit ist Dr. Stefan Papastefanou als Rechtsanwalt im Hamburger Büro von White & Case LLP in der Abteilung IP/IT tätig.