1. Introduction: patents as discourse on life : the purposes of patents in the field of biotechnology and biomedical innovation; 2. The European Patent Office, biotechnology, and ethics : revising ends of policy, and rethinking public deliberation; 3. Neutral or practically wise regulator? genes, patents, and human health; 4. Rethinking multilevel governance in the EU and the future of the EPO : from morality to ethics; 5. Public bioethics, lay opinions, human need : from sex selection to enhancement; 6. EPO and public bioethics : germ line interventions in human embryos, the problem of commodification and the question of incentives; 7. TRIPs, access to medicines, and the global governance of patents, cultivating humanity and equity; 8. Global health networks and discursive legitimacy; 9. Some reflections on good patent governance; 10. Conclusions : a discursive analysis of patents.

Introduction : patents as discourse on life : the purposes of patents in the field of biotechnology and biomedical innovation
The European Patent Office, biotechnology, and ethics : revising ends of policy, and rethinking public deliberation
Neutral or practically wise regulator? genes, patents, and human health
Rethinking multilevel governance in the EU and the future of the EPO : from morality to ethics
Public bioethics, lay opinions, human need : from sex selection to enhancement
EPO and public bioethics : germ line interventions in human embryos, the problem of commodification and the question of incentives
TRIPs, access to medicines, and the global governance of patents, cultivating humanity and equity
Global health networks and discursive legitimacy
Some reflections on good patent governance
Conclusions : a discursive analysis of patents.