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

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

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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 . / Nordberg, Ana; Minssen, Timo.

In: I I C - International Review of Intellectual Property and Competition Law, Vol. 47, No. 2, 07.03.2016, p. 138-177.

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

Harvard

Nordberg, A & Minssen, T 2016, '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 ', I I C - International Review of Intellectual Property and Competition Law, vol. 47, no. 2, pp. 138-177. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40319-016-0449-x

APA

Nordberg, A., & Minssen, T. (2016). 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 . I I C - International Review of Intellectual Property and Competition Law, 47(2), 138-177. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40319-016-0449-x

Vancouver

Nordberg A, Minssen T. 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 . I I C - International Review of Intellectual Property and Competition Law. 2016 Mar 7;47(2):138-177. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40319-016-0449-x

Author

Nordberg, Ana ; Minssen, Timo. / 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 . In: I I C - International Review of Intellectual Property and Competition Law. 2016 ; Vol. 47, No. 2. pp. 138-177.

Bibtex

@article{d434bcac6b52485a897afeebb323482c,
title = "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 ",
abstract = "In Case C-364/13 International Stem Cell Corporation (ISCC) v. Comptroller General of Patents (December 18th, 2014), the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) distinguished its{\textquoteright} earlier ruling in Br{\"u}stle v. Greenpeace (Br{\"u}stle) with regard to non-fertilized human ova stimulated by parthenogenesis. The Court found that in order to be considered a {\textquoteleft}human embryo{\textquoteright}- and thus to be unpatentable under the EU Biotechnology Directive - the stimulated ovum must have the “inherent capacity to develop into a human being”. This permits the patentability of innovative pluripotent parthenotes and their applications. Yet, ISCC also leaves considerable discretion to national courts and the full impact of the decision still depends on national implementations. Moreover, ISCC only applies to very specific human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and lacks further clarifications concerning other non-totipotent hESCs, such as stem cells created through somatic cell nuclear transfer. Considering the significance of Br{\"u}stle and ISCC for regenerative medicine and cellular therapy, the persisting legal uncertainty is unfortunate. Irrespective of these flaws, however, ISCC opened at least doors that were thought to be closed and thereby reinvigorated crucial debates. Thus, it might have the “inherent capacity” of developing into a reasonable doctrine on stem cell patenting. Paradoxically, the patentability of isolated embryonic stem cells is now less certain in the US.",
keywords = "Faculty of Law, biotech, patents, stem cells",
author = "Ana Nordberg and Timo Minssen",
year = "2016",
month = mar,
day = "7",
doi = "10.1007/s40319-016-0449-x",
language = "English",
volume = "47",
pages = "138--177",
journal = "IIC International Review of Intellectual Property and Competition Law",
issn = "0018-9855",
publisher = "Verlag C.H./Beck oHG",
number = "2",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - A “ray of hope” for European stem cell patents or “out of the smog into the fog”?

T2 - -An analysis of recent European case law and how it compares to the US

AU - Nordberg, Ana

AU - Minssen, Timo

PY - 2016/3/7

Y1 - 2016/3/7

N2 - In Case C-364/13 International Stem Cell Corporation (ISCC) v. Comptroller General of Patents (December 18th, 2014), the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) distinguished its’ earlier ruling in Brüstle v. Greenpeace (Brüstle) with regard to non-fertilized human ova stimulated by parthenogenesis. The Court found that in order to be considered a ‘human embryo’- and thus to be unpatentable under the EU Biotechnology Directive - the stimulated ovum must have the “inherent capacity to develop into a human being”. This permits the patentability of innovative pluripotent parthenotes and their applications. Yet, ISCC also leaves considerable discretion to national courts and the full impact of the decision still depends on national implementations. Moreover, ISCC only applies to very specific human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and lacks further clarifications concerning other non-totipotent hESCs, such as stem cells created through somatic cell nuclear transfer. Considering the significance of Brüstle and ISCC for regenerative medicine and cellular therapy, the persisting legal uncertainty is unfortunate. Irrespective of these flaws, however, ISCC opened at least doors that were thought to be closed and thereby reinvigorated crucial debates. Thus, it might have the “inherent capacity” of developing into a reasonable doctrine on stem cell patenting. Paradoxically, the patentability of isolated embryonic stem cells is now less certain in the US.

AB - In Case C-364/13 International Stem Cell Corporation (ISCC) v. Comptroller General of Patents (December 18th, 2014), the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) distinguished its’ earlier ruling in Brüstle v. Greenpeace (Brüstle) with regard to non-fertilized human ova stimulated by parthenogenesis. The Court found that in order to be considered a ‘human embryo’- and thus to be unpatentable under the EU Biotechnology Directive - the stimulated ovum must have the “inherent capacity to develop into a human being”. This permits the patentability of innovative pluripotent parthenotes and their applications. Yet, ISCC also leaves considerable discretion to national courts and the full impact of the decision still depends on national implementations. Moreover, ISCC only applies to very specific human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and lacks further clarifications concerning other non-totipotent hESCs, such as stem cells created through somatic cell nuclear transfer. Considering the significance of Brüstle and ISCC for regenerative medicine and cellular therapy, the persisting legal uncertainty is unfortunate. Irrespective of these flaws, however, ISCC opened at least doors that were thought to be closed and thereby reinvigorated crucial debates. Thus, it might have the “inherent capacity” of developing into a reasonable doctrine on stem cell patenting. Paradoxically, the patentability of isolated embryonic stem cells is now less certain in the US.

KW - Faculty of Law

KW - biotech, patents, stem cells

U2 - 10.1007/s40319-016-0449-x

DO - 10.1007/s40319-016-0449-x

M3 - Journal article

VL - 47

SP - 138

EP - 177

JO - IIC International Review of Intellectual Property and Competition Law

JF - IIC International Review of Intellectual Property and Competition Law

SN - 0018-9855

IS - 2

ER -

ID: 132137442