To patent or not to patent: the European Union's new biotech directive.

IV. PATENTABILITY OF BIOTECHNOLOGICAL INVENTIONS IN EUROPE............................................................................ 583 A. The European Patent Convention............................. 583 B. Directive 98/44/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union on the Legal Protection of Biotechnological Inventions ...... 589 1. Procedure for Adoption of a Directive by the European Parliament .......................................... 590 2. Acceptance of the Directive .................................. 592 3. The Biotech Directive........................................... 592 C. Patent Laws of the Various European Community Nations...................................................................... 596