The emerging commercial application of nanotechnoloy involves devices, processes, and materials that are manipulated at the atomic and molecular level. This first-of-its-kind resource identifies and describes the legal and policy initiatives aimed at encouraging or restricting nanotech research and applications. The book offers an up-to-date understanding of how to comply with regulations in different countries as nanotechnology applications are developed. Professionals find expert guidance on how to protect intellectual property rights associated with this hot technological area.
Author(s): Jeffrey H. Matsuura
Edition: 1
Year: 2006
Language: English
Pages: 206
Nanotechnology Regulation and Policy Worldwide......Page 1
Introduction 1......Page 11
Who Should Read This Book? 2......Page 12
Why Read This Book? 3......Page 13
Some Key Take-away Points 4......Page 14
1 Nanotechnology: What Is It? 9......Page 19
Why All the Fuss About Nanotechnology? 10......Page 20
Access to the Nanoworld 12......Page 22
The Challenge of Nanofabrication 13......Page 23
Nanotechnology Today 15......Page 25
Nanotubes 16......Page 26
The Quantum Dot 18......Page 28
Nanotechnology and Its Invisible Reach 19......Page 29
The Extraordinarily Broad Reach of Nanotechnology 20......Page 30
A Sampling of Today’s Nanotechnology Players 21......Page 31
Nanotechnology Tomorrow 27......Page 37
Molecular Motors, Machines, and Manufacturing 28......Page 38
Nanocomputing and Electronics 29......Page 39
Medical Nanotechnology 30......Page 40
The Bridge from Today to Tomorrow 32......Page 42
Managing the Nanotechnology Hype 33......Page 43
2 Nanotechnology and Intellectual Property Rights 37......Page 47
Patents: Control over Inventions 39......Page 49
An Intellectual Property Law Primer 38......Page 48
Copyrights: Protecting Authorship 42......Page 52
Trademarks: Managing Commercial Brands 43......Page 53
Trade Dress and Design Patents: Protecting Product Design and Packaging 44......Page 54
Nanotechnology Patents: Contemplating the Gold-Rush Mentality 46......Page 56
Nanotechnology and the Challenge of Patentability 48......Page 58
Invalidity: Will Nanotech Patents Be Fully Enforceable? 49......Page 59
Trade Secrets: Overlooked Opportunities for the Nanotechnology Industry 51......Page 61
Alternative Legal Theories Applied to Intangible Assets 55......Page 65
Using Multiple Intellectual Property Forms for Maximum Flexibility 56......Page 66
Intellectual Property Rights and the Future of Nanotechnology 58......Page 68
Patent Busters, Generics, Technical Standards, Open Source, and Outsourcing: Potential Complications for Managing Nanotechnology 60......Page 70
Nanotech Intellectual Property Rights: A Path Forward 68......Page 78
3 Guide to Regulatory Compliance 75......Page 85
Nanotechnology and the Environment: Gray Goo or Benign Innovation? 77......Page 87
Emission Controls 81......Page 91
Preserving the Safety of Medical and Food Products 82......Page 92
Consumer Product Safety 84......Page 94
Nanotechnology and Workplace Health and Safety 85......Page 95
Nanotechnology and National Security: Opportunity and Threat 87......Page 97
Nanotechnology Regulation: The Core Issue 91......Page 101
Europe and the Precautionary Principle 92......Page 102
The Challenge of Compliance 94......Page 104
4 Nanotech Legal and Public Policy Initiatives Around the World 99......Page 109
Nanotechnology Policy Initiatives: A Range of Strategies 100......Page 110
NNI: Nanotech Promotion, American Style 102......Page 112
The European Community and Nanotechnology 104......Page 114
A Nanotechnology Tour of Europe 105......Page 115
Asian Nanotechnology 108......Page 118
NanoIndia: The Nanomaterials Science and Technology Initiative 111......Page 121
Canadian Nanotechnology 112......Page 122
South African Nanotech: The SANI 113......Page 123
Nanotechnology Initiatives in Russia and the Former Soviet Republics 114......Page 124
Eastern European Nanotechnology Programs 115......Page 125
Nanotechnology in the Middle East 116......Page 126
Nanotechnology in the Developing World 117......Page 127
Nanotechnology Policy Initiatives: What Works Best? 119......Page 129
5 Impact of Nanotechnology Regulation 123......Page 133
Protecting the Public Interest 125......Page 135
Influencing the Direction and Scope of Research 126......Page 136
Incentives for Commercial Applications 129......Page 139
Affecting the Pace of Commercial Development 131......Page 141
Shaping the Nanotech Marketplace 133......Page 143
Altering International Relationships 135......Page 145
Allocating Costs Associated with Risks 140......Page 150
Public Perception of Nanotechnology 145......Page 155
Political Consequences 146......Page 156
Nanotechnology and the Precautionary Principle 148......Page 158
The Challenge of Regulatory Uncertainty and Disparities 150......Page 160
The Critical Impact of Regulation on Nanotechnology 151......Page 161
Implications for Future Technologies 152......Page 162
6 Regulatory Roadmap for Nanotech’s Future 155......Page 165
Encourage Research 156......Page 166
Integration into Existing Regulations 159......Page 169
Avoid Regulatory Overreaction 160......Page 170
Promote Regulatory Certainty 163......Page 173
Encourage Cooperation Between Jurisdictions 164......Page 174
Facilitate Information Sharing and Technology Transfer 165......Page 175
Regulation to Promote Efficient Markets 168......Page 178
Creative Use of Insurance, Industry Standards, and Informal Government Influence 170......Page 180
Incentives for Creativity and Innovation 173......Page 183
Responsible Interaction with the Public 174......Page 184
Regulation and Emerging Technologies 178......Page 188
Cultivating the Research Infrastructure 180......Page 190
Some Final Thoughts for Regulators 181......Page 191
About the Author 185......Page 195
Index 187......Page 197
