Danish biotech company wins patent dispute at China’s Supreme Court

Danish biotechnology company Novozymes has won a patent dispute against China-based enzyme makers Shandong Longda Bio-Products and Jiangsu Boli Bioproducts at theSupreme People’s Court of China.

According to a press release issued on Thursday, February 16 by Novozymes, the battle began in 2011.

Novozymes allegedly found evidence that Longda and Boli were producing and selling a proprietary Novozymes glucoamylase enzyme, violating one of Novozymes’Chinese patents.

The accused companies had used the enzyme in the bioenergy and beverage industries.

Longda and Boli had already been found to infringe the Novozymes patent back in 2012 and 2013. As a result they were ordered by two Chinese courts to stop making and selling infringing products as well as pay statutory damages of RMB 1.7 million ($247,000) to Novozymes.

The China-based companies appealed, arguing that the patent was invalid.

However, the Supreme People’s Court held that the patent was valid, so the decision can no longer be appealed.

Mikkel Viltoft, general counsel of Novozymes, said: “We are pleased with the court’s decision and wish to commend the Chinese patent and court system for taking an important step towards protecting biotech innovations.”

He added: “This landmark verdict will spur growth and investments in China and encourage local inventions, and it shows that China is serious in its efforts to protect IP rights.”