Patente auf Human Enhancements

Is patent law really »value-neutral« or even »ethically blind«? The practice of patent law is driven by an unbroken optimism about progress. The strong faith in technology and innovation traditionally leaves little room for deeper reflection on the non-legal dimensions of the patent system. However, the question arises whether promoting innovation without a minimum level of social responsibility for innovation is a meaningful goal at all. A multifaceted topic like »human enhancements« is ideally suited to illustrate the functions and effects of patent protection. General references to »ethically controversial research fields« give way to concrete examples. The insights gained can flow into the overall interdisciplinary discourse, which views the biotechnological self-design of humans as part and consequence of modern society and its characteristics.