Nanotechnologies
Protection of intellectual activity results in the field of nanotechnologies.
On July 19, 2007 the President of Russia has signed the Federal Law “On the Russian Corporation of Nanotechnologies” establishing state corporation Russian Corporation of Nanotechnologies (in abbreviated form SC Rosnanotech). The Corporation shall contribute to implementation of state policy in the field of nanotechnology, development of innovation infrastructure in the field of nanotechnology, realization of projects on creation of advanced nanotechnologies and nanoindustry. At the moment corporation is in the process of establishing and forming administrative bodies.
Nanotechnology is relatively young field of science and engineering, which studies object properties and is engaged in development of nanometer-sized devices (according to SI system of units, 10-9 meters). Nanotechnology is qualitatively different from traditional engineering disciplines as on such scales traditional macroscopic technologies of handling with matter are often not applicable and microscopic phenomena that are negligibly weak on conventional scales become much more significant: properties and interactions among individual atoms and molecules, quantum effects.
Protection of intellectual activity results is one of the main components of the effective use of high-tech products created in our country. Above all rules of law relating to the protection of rights to inventions, software, databases, integrated circuit topographies and know-how are used in the field of intellectual property rights protection in the area of nanotechnologies. However, this list is not limited to the listed objects as other results of intellectual activity such as works of science, literature and art, industrial designs and utility models can be parts of created integrated technologies.
Since as mentioned above the very field of nanotechnology is young enough, it is still impossible to structure methods for protection of intellectual rights to products of nanotechnology due to the lack of gained practical experience.
Thus, one of the most serious problems is interdisciplinary nature of knowledge in the field of nanotechnology. This implies that a patent examiner in the field of nanotechnologies should have all-round training that is sufficient to understand the full range of scope of rights associated with the technical facilities, design techniques and application fields of nanotechnology products, including those composing an integrated technology. We can honestly say that at present there is a shortage of such specialists all over the world.
Nanotechnologies, as one of the most revolutionary branches of knowledge, promise transformation of the modern information-oriented society. For our part we are ready to make use of our knowledge and experience and make every effort towards complete and competent protection of rights to integrated technologies, including nanotechnologies. We are confident that by joint efforts with creators of nanotechnologies we can produce a legal framework for the most economically efficient use of scientific potential of Russian scientists.