Applicants in Europe are left with few options for the patent protection of hES cell–related technology.
References
Delphion patent database search for granted US patents containing the term “human embryonic stem cell” within the title and front pages (searched May 24, 2006).
Delphion patent database search for granted European patents containing the term “human embryonic stem cell” within the title and front pages (searched May 24, 2006).
Directive 98/44/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of July 6, 1998 on the legal protection of biotechnological inventions, OJ 1998 L213/13.
Thomson, J.A. et al. Science 282, 1145–1147 (1998).
O.J. EPO 1999, 437. O.J. EPO 1999, 574 for an official commentary.
European Patent No. EP 0695351; see the EPO press release of July 24, 2002.
European Patent Application No. 96903521.1.
Laurie, G. Eur. Intellectual Property Rev. 26, 59–66 (2004).
Harvard/Onco-mouse [1991] EPOR 525; Plant Genetic Systems/Glutamine Synthetase Inhibitors [1995] EPOR 357, and; Howard Florey/Relaxin [1995] EPOR 541.
Statement of Grounds of Appeal; European Patent Application No. 96903521.1.
Delphion patent database search for granted European patents containing the term “human embryonic stem cell” ('full text' search, May 24, 2006).
US patent application US20030103950A1: Cell.
Delphion patent databse search for European patent applications containing the term “human embryonic stem cell” within the title and front pages (searched May 24, 2006).
Delphion patent database search for US patent applications containing the term “human embryonic stem cell” within the title and front pages (searched May 24, 2006).
Granted UK patent GB2386609.
European patent application EP1516925A1.
Meissner, A. & Jaenisch, R. Nature 439, 212–215 (2006).
Chung, Y. et al. Nature 439, 216–219 (2006).
Acknowledgements
The authors are members of the Stem Cell Patents: European Patent Law and Ethics research group based at the University of Nottingham, UK. This work was funded by the European Commission. The views expressed here are those of the research group and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Commission. Further details about the project can be viewed online at: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/law/StemCellProject.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Porter, G., Denning, C., Plomer, A. et al. The patentability of human embryonic stem cells in Europe. Nat Biotechnol 24, 653–655 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0606-653
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0606-653
- Springer Nature America, Inc.
This article is cited by
-
A “Ray of Hope” for European Stem Cell Patents or “Out of the Smog into the Fog”? An Analysis of Recent European Case Law and How it Compares to the US
IIC - International Review of Intellectual Property and Competition Law (2016)
-
Patenting parthenotes in the US and Europe
Nature Biotechnology (2015)
-
Research sharing, ethics and public benefit
Nature Biotechnology (2007)
-
Embryonic Stem Cell Patents and Human Dignity
Health Care Analysis (2007)