Litigation on the patentability of isolated genes and cells in the Myriad, WARF and Brustle cases has resulted in landmark rulings from the highest courts in the US and Europe. From the patients’ and researchers’ perspective, the concerns center primarily on the adverse impact of the patents on access to science and its benefits, a universal and fundamental human right enshrined in Article 17 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and Article 15 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) respectively. The first chapter of the book sets out the context and challenges posed by the modern patent system to the right of everyone to access the benefits of science in international law.