人类基因的可专利性之争——Myriad案评析

Dispute on the Patentability of Human Genome:a Case Study on the Myriad Case

Myriad案解决的重点问题是,美国分子病理学协会等与Myriad公司之间有关人类基因的可专利性问题的争议。Myriad案中,美国最高法院根据基因技术的特点颇具针对性地对"发明"与"发现"做了区分,并在审查人类基因的可专利性时灵活地运用了区分自然之物与人造之物的方法,最终否定了分离DNA的可专利性,肯定了cDNA的可专利性。Myriad案成为美国生物技术发明专利保护史上又一具有里程碑式转折意义的判例。

The Myriad Case concerns the dispute＇ on the Patentability of Human Genome between Association for Molecular Pathology and Myriad Genetics, Inc. The decision of the Supreme Court held, ＂A naturally occurring DNA segment is a product of nature and not patent eligible merely because it has been isolated, but cDNA is patent eligible because it is not naturally occurring. ＂ The Myriad Case is a milestone of patent protection history in the area of biotechnology.