As the Roche vs Promega battle rumbles on, here is the latest from
Europe (From New Scientist 6 July 1996):
"PATENT FAILURE
A company (Hoffmann la Roche) hoping to cash in on an enzyme vital for most forms of DNA
analysis, including DNA fingerprinting, was last week dealt a blow by
the European Patent Office in Munich. The EPO ruled that the enzyme
(taq polymerase)cannot be patented because it was first described by
scientists in 1976.
[snip]
The patent office has given the company until 24 october to present
further evidence supporting its application."
Now can anyone tell me if this means that anyone can sell taq in
Europe? Does it mean that scientists are free to produce their own
stocks of taq in their own laboratories?
Kevin
Dr Kevin O'Donnell "I'm happy, I'm happy
Diagnostics and Molecular Biology and I'll punch the man that says I'm not"
SASA - Ivor Cutler
Edinburgh
