Aegis or Achilles Heel: The Dilemma of Homology in Biopatents in the Wake of Novozymes

Qinghua Yang

doi:10.5771/9783845292717

Summary

Biopatents frequently disclose sequences of polypeptides and nucleic acids in the written description. The claims often cover a homology range surrounding the disclosed sequence to get a broader protection. However, homology claims face a hurdle that they may lack support by the written description. The Supreme Court of China ruled that homology claims lack support, but a further limitation by species of origin satisfies this requirement. This study explains that homology per se should have formed the essence of such disputes. Homology dictates the skilled person’s confidence on the functionality of unknown sequences, and is involved in multiple patentability requirements. Thus, the assessment of support is not an isolated matter. Disparity of different requirements creates an unclaimable gap, and constitutes a discrimination to biotechnology. An appropriate test for the support requirement is thus furnished to confer a scope of protection commensurating to the technical contribution.

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Bibliographic data

Copyright year: 2018
ISBN-Print: 978-3-8487-5021-4
ISBN-Online: 978-3-8452-9271-7
Publisher: Nomos, Baden-Baden
Series: Munich Intellectual Property Law Center - MIPLC Studies
Volume: 32
Language: English
Pages: 72
Product type: Book Titles

Titelei/InhaltsverzeichnisPages 1 - 12 Download chapter (PDF)
I. IntroductionPages 13 - 15 Download chapter (PDF)
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1. A. The Glucoamylase
2. B. The Patent
3. C. The Proceedings on Patent Infringement
4. 1. 1. The Patent Reexamination Board
  2. 2. The Courts of First Instance and Second Instance
  3. 3. The Supreme Court
5. E. Comments – a Good Will, but also a “Chicken Rib”
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1. A. Supporting Data for Homology Claims is Not Necessary for the Patent Law
2. B. Supporting Data for Homology Claims is an Overwhelming Burden
3. 1. 1. The Homology Language
  2. 2. The Technical Meaning of Homology
4. D. Species of Origin is Not an Effective Limitation
5. E. Concluding Remarks
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1. A. Inventive Step and Support are One-Dimensionally Aligned by Homology
2. B. Disparity in Views on Homology Creates an Unclaimable Gap
3. C. The Unclaimable Gap May Constitute a Discrimination
4. D. Downregulating Inventive Step is Not a Feasible Option
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1. A. Sufficient Disclosure and Support Have Different “Prior Art”
2. B. Novozymes Tests Support Using the Standard of Sufficient Disclosure
3. C. An Example Test Given by the EWHC
4. D. On Non-Working Variants – How to Avoid a “Negative Gap”?
VI. ConclusionPages 64 - 66 Download chapter (PDF)
Annex I: Sequences of Cytochrome c from 17 Different SpeciesPages 67 - 68 Download chapter (PDF)
List of Works CitedPages 69 - 72 Download chapter (PDF)

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