欧盟基因专利的保护范围及其启示——对欧盟Monsanto V.Cefetra BV and Others案的评介

Study on the Protection Scope of Gene Patents in European and the Implications:Review on European Monsanto V.Cefetra BV and Others

如何界定基因专利的保护范围一直是各国学者和司法界关注和探讨的重要问题。Monsanto V.Cefetra BV and Others案是欧盟法院讨论如何界定种子基因专利保护范围的经典案例。欧盟法院在该案中深入讨论了《欧盟生物技术发明保护指令》第9条规定的具体含义,认为如果被控侵权时,转基因产品中所含的相关基因不能执行其专利申请书中所描述的基因功能时,就不构成对该基因专利的侵权。这个解释统一了欧盟成员关于基因专利保护范围的不同理解,对跨国生物技术公司的全球知识产权战略布局产生重要影响,也对我们如何界定基因专利的保护范围、撰写基因专利申请书以及组合品种权与专利权为生物技术发明提供保护,具有重要启示。

How to confirm the protection scope of gene patents is a significant question concerned by scholars and judges from various nations. Monsanto V. Cefetra BV and Others was a classic case which European Court of Justice discussed the above question. In this case, ECJ systematically interpreted Article 9 of European Union Biotechnology Directive, indicated that if the DNA contained by the alleged infringement products was not functional at the time of the alleged infringement, the patent with claims drawn to isolated DNA, or transgenic products containing sequence, could not be infringed. This interpretation unified different understanding of Members of the European Union, had an important impact on global intellectual property strategy of international biotech companies, and had great implications for us to write claims of Gene Patent, to draw the protection scope of gene patents and to combine patents with Breeders' right to protect biological technology invention.