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Panor. Braz. law - Year 3 - Numbers 3 and 4 - 2015 - pp. 301 - 341.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17768/pbl.a3.n3-4.p301
PATENTS ON GENE SEQUENCES
Clarisse de la Cerda
The author holds a master's degree in intellectual property
law granted by the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ)
and works with technology transfer agreements at a law firm
specialized in intellectual property.
Abstract: The patents on gene sequences are a controversial theme
in the setting of intellectual property. The discussion revolves around
the supposed inventiveness of these genetic materials: would they be
considered true inventions or mere discoveries? It is certain that there
is no unanimity of treatment. This study sought to systematize the
patentability on genetic materials, under the decision on the Myriad
Case, decided by the U. S. Supreme Court. Also, an analysis of the
Brazilian legislation was necessary, as well as an understanding of
the Brazilian Patent Office's practice. Considerations were made
regarding whether the protection of biotechnological inventions is
necessary, pondering the mandatory social purpose of the scientific and
technological development established by the Brazilian Constitution.
Keywords: Intellectual Property - Patent - Biotechnology
Biotechnological inventions have achieved undisputed
importance in industry, agriculture and business, as well as in the
promotion of social welfare. Chemical methods previously used
have been replaced by others more efficient, based on the use of
biotechnological processes, making new products that meet specific
demands of human beings.
In human medicine, research relating to the human genome and
its mutations has led to better understanding of diseases such as cancer,
enabling more accurate diagnoses, even before the manifestation of
the symptoms of the disease itself. Similarly, such advances have also
contributed to the development of new drugs (pharmacogenomics),
as well as on therapeutic medicine (gene therapy), in addition to the
creation of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) vaccines.
Under these new creations of interest to industry and with
Panor. Braz. law - Vol 3, Nos. 3 and 4 (2015)
significant impact on human health, it is observed a legal clash
resulting from the imposition of rules and interpretations of the patent
system, which is considered relevant to the promotion and guarantee
of investments to research and development of new products and
technological processes.
If the patent system acquires a strategic importance for research
and technological development, the result of research involving living
organisms, or parts of them, brings benefits with the adoption of new
products, on the other hand, this biopatenting system brings forth the
questioning about the possibility of appropriating knowledge based on
these natural materials, restricting the innovation in the area.
More specifically, one may question about the suitability of
patent protection to the discoveries in biotechnology, especially in
regard of isolated biological materials from nature to the research and
development of new drugs, as well as the whole or part of the genetic
code. Would these materials, in such cases, be considered a creative
intellectual work of humans? The genetic code is patentable matter or
would it be a mere discovery?
2. The myriad case
It is in this context that the United States Supreme Court´s
decision on June 13, 2013, in the Myriad Case1, is gaining importance
because of its impact on the interpretation of American law about what
would be patentable, mainly in the area of biotechnology. That decision
has put to the ground the practice adopted for decades by the United
States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), since the previous
understanding was for the broader possibility of patenting genetic
sequences, as well as all material isolated from its natural environment.
Important to note, here, that the analysis of the case does not
cause impact only in the patenting of genetic sequences, but also
involves all products of nature taken to laboratories to be isolated
from its environment, as hormones, vitamins, as well as other extracts.
The impact is of such a broad spectrum that Nanotechnology industry
participants interfered in the case as amicus curiae to demonstrate their
arguments and concerns about the restriction of the patenting of genetic
sequences, as nanomaterials are nothing more than isolated products2.
1 The Association for Molecular Pathology, et al. v. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, et al.
(US Supreme Court, Process n. 12-398). The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) was
removed from the demand later. Besides Myriad, it was also a defendant in the demand the
University of Utah/ USA.
2 AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION. Available at: http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/
aba/publications/supreme_court_preview/briefs-v2/12-398_resp_amcu_nano.authcheckdam.
pdf. Accessed May 09, 2014. p. 11.
Patents on Gene Sequences - Clarisse de la Cerda
Basically, the arguments of the parties in the Myriad Case can
be summarised as follows, in connection with the genetic sequences:
(i) by the Association for Molecular Pathology: the applications
would not be patentable matter as they would not meet Paragraph
101, of Title 35, of the U.S. Code3, i.e. by being true products
of nature, as well as the lack of inventiveness. Also, such
patents would impede innovation, by reason of the prohibition
of conducting research; and would limit the options for the
testing of patients with cancer. It was also stressed that the
patents on isolated genes would violate the First Amendment of
the Constitution of the United States of America4 by blocking
scientific research on the isolated sequence, since it would be a
patent on pure information5.
(ii) By Myriad Genetics, Inc. ("Myriad"): the genetic sequences
would be liable to protection based on the understanding that
they would be chemical compounds. In this sense, the sequence,
after the isolation process, would present different characteristics
found in the human body. It was also argued that such patents
promote innovation in the field of biotechnology, in particular
with regard to genetic engineering, to the extent that, by being
granted patents, the knowledge is made public, encouraging to
not be maintained as business/trade secrets.
Thus, the main issue may be summarized as follows: The
isolated genetic sequences are a composition of matter (invention) or
occur naturally (discovery)?6
In regard to the patenting of genetic sequences, it should be noted
that the understanding of the USPTO, with seat in jurisprudence, was
that patent protection would be possible only if a substantial change in
naturally occurring products was found. In this way, the isolation of the
gene sequence would characterize this substantial change.
When the Myriad Case reached the Court of Appeals, all three
members issued their opinions; but there was no consensus on the basis
of the reasoning.
3 35 U.S.C. § 101 35 U.S.C. 101. Inventions patentable: Whoever invents or discovers any new
and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful
improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements
of this title.
4 "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people
peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances".
5 We understand that, although this argument was not clarified in the final decision, it relates to
the fact that it is a discovery and, therefore, a basic tool for the genetic research.
6 We clarify that, for Brazilian law, the difference is of great impact, since it cannot be granted
a patent on a discovery.
For example, Judge Lourie understood that, for the examination
of the marked difference, little mattered the gene functionality, but only
the structural difference, which, for him, existed in the case. Judge
Moore understood that the isolated sequence was subject to patenting
because of the practice of the USPTO. Judge Bryson found that the
isolated gene sequence, even with its proper function identified, behaved
in the same way that it behaves in the human body, being absent any
new use; in this sense, the patent would be only a consequence of the
possession of the sequence7.
Because of these controversies, the American Civil Liberties
Union (ACLU) and the Public Patent Foundation (PPF), on the proposed
action in face of Myriad, have petitioned on September 25, 20128, to
the U.S. Supreme Court to express an opinion on the possibility of the
patenting of genetic sequences, through a petition for writ of certiorari9,
which on November 30, 2012, was admitted, only regarding the question:
are human genes patentable?, this being the focus of this work10.
The decision, by a majority11, came on June 13, 2013, with the
7 Decision of July 29, 2011, Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, Case n. 09-CV-4515 (20101406). Available at: https://www.aclu.org/files/assets/10-1406.pdf. Accessed June 18, 2014.
8 It is important to note that, for procedural purposes, after the Court of Appeals' decision, on
July, 2011, there was the first petitioning to the Supreme Court, which revoked the Federal
Circuit's decision, determining the case was revisited according to what was decided on Mayo
Collaborative Services v. Prometheus Laboratories Inc. Thus, the case was revisited, taking into
consideration the Mayo Case, however in regard to the genetic sequences, such a precedent
would not be relevant, since that decision was related to a method. After this second decision,
a new petition was addressed to the Supreme Court requesting the specific case of the genetic
sequences to be analysed.
9 The writ of certiorari is the principal mechanism of appeal to the Supreme Court in
America, for the selection of cases to be submitted to this court. The Supreme Court has the
sole power to decide whether or not to analyse the question, taking into consideration a few
aspects, such as if there was a prior decision treating important and relevant question that
should have been addressed by the Supreme Court, among others. It is based on the necessity
of the standardization of understandings regarding the application of the law. PINTO, José
Guilherme Berman C.. O writ of certiorari. Em Revista Jurídica, Brasília, v. 9, n. 86. Ago/
Set 2007. Brasília, 2007. Available at: http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/revista/Rev_86/
artigos/JoseGuilherme_rev86.htm. Accessed March 12, 2014. The writ of certiorari can be
compared to the institute of the general repercussion in the Brazilian law. MELLO, Vitor Tadeu
Camarrão. A repercussão geral e o writ of certiorari:breve diferenciação. Revista da SJRJ n.
26. Rio de Janeiro: 2009. pp; 139 – 146. Available at: http://www4.jfrj.jus.br/seer/index.php/
revista_sjrj/article/viewFile/32/30. Accessed March 12, 2014.
10 Therefore, as for the other questions that were not accepted by the Supreme Court, acting
in its appeal competence, the final decision was the one of the Court of Appeals. Since those
questions are in connection with the method and impediment for the realization of tests, these
are not going to be analyzed, for they are not the scope of this work.
11 The members of the Supreme Court, by the time of the decision were Judge Clarence
Thomas; Judge John Roberts; Judge Anthony Kennedy; Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg; Judge
invalidation of the claims contained in the Myriad patents concerning
purely isolated genetic sequences based on grounds that they would be
products found in nature, remaining valid all claims concerning cDNA
(complementary DNA)12.
In fact, the Supreme Court used a very specific vocabulary to
summarize the issues at stake. It affirmed13 that Myriad had obtained
several patents after the discovery of the precise location and sequencing
of mutations of the BRCA 1 and BRCA 214 genes, which determine a
dramatic increase in the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer.
Such knowledge has enabled Myriad to develop applicable laboratory
tests ("useful medical tests") for the detection of such mutations. If
deemed valid, the USPTO would grant the titleholder the exclusive right
to isolate the genes BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 of an individual, as well as give
Myriad the exclusive right to create synthetically cDNA from BRCA.
The President of the Supreme Court, Judge Roberts, questioning
Myriad's lawyer Greg Castanias, in the oral arguments, noted that the isolated
organism could not be considered similar to the transgenic organism, since
in the latter there would be a combination of elements with the emergence
of something new. In the process of isolating a genetic sequence, there
would be only the snipping, exposing only a part of something that already
existed prior to human intervention15; this understanding tended to require
the structural difference, necessary for patenting.
Myriad 's lawyer contested that it was not a pure, simple cut, but
only after its creation (revelation of the insulation), could the scientist
know where to cut.
Stephen Breyer; Judge Samuel Alito; Judge Sonia Sotomayor; Judge Elena Kagan and Judge
Antonin Scalia, who did not agree in part with the decision , since he understood that the matter
of molecular biology was beyond his knowledge. In his own words: "I join the judgment of the
Court, and all of its opinion except Part I–A and some portions of the rest of the opinion going
into fine details of molecular biology. I am unable to affirm those details on my own knowledge
or even my own belief. It suffices for me to affirm, having studied the opinions below and the
expert briefs presented here, that the portion of DNA isolated from its natural state sought to
be patented is identical to that portion of the DNA in its natural state; and that complementary
DNA (cDNA) is a synthetic creation not normally present in nature."
12 The Supreme Court did not specificaly indicate which claims would be considered invalid.
13 SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES. Association for Molecular Pathology et al.
v. Myriad Genetics Inc. et al. n. 12-398. Syllabus. Available at: http://www.supremecourt.gov/
opinions/12pdf/12-398_8njq.pdf. Accessed June 02, 2014.
14 The BRCA1 and the BRCA 2 (breast cancer susceptibility) are a tumor supressor
human genes that regulate the cellular cycle and prevent the uncontrolled proliferation.
Some variations or mutations of those genes are associated with an increase of the risk
of breast cancer.
15 Oral Arguments in the Myriad Case, available at the Supreme Court's website, page 61.
Available at: http://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/12-398amc7.pdf. Accessed June 02, 2014.
The invention would be in knowing where to start and where
to finish the gene sequence (where to cut the rest of the chromosome).
Myriad 's lawyer used the analogy of the baseball bat: Similarly, the
baseball bat was cut from a tree, that is, it is also found in nature, but the
decision about where to start and where to finish was taken by humans.
Roberts argued that such analogy would be quite different, since, with
the DNA, these are mere cut on top and bottom.
Still, Castanias noted that the location of genes, contained in
subparts of the chromosome, was unknown until its isolation among
the 8 million pairs of nucleotides. At most, the breaking of chemical
bonds, when the isolation process occurs, gives a different structure to
the isolated DNA.
Following the questioning, Judge Breyer said that, historically,
it is recognized the patenting on the process for extracting a substance
from a plant, as well as the new uses that can result from such extract,
but the extract itself cannot be patented, which encourages new uses to
be developed by science.
Judge Kagan questioned how it would be if the first person who
found and isolated a chromosome had it patented; as well as the first
person who found a liver had it patented, and so on. Myriad 's lawyer
replied that there would be no obstacle to patentability with regard to
the already mentioned §101.
Chris Hansen, a lawyer on behalf of ACLU, argued that there
could be something different from nature and not obvious when the
genes were transformed in a way that the scientist decided what it would
be like the sequel more than the very nature, which wouldn't be the case.
The Supreme Court understood, then, that the main contribution
of Myriad was only revealing the precise location of the genes
BRCA1 and BRCA2, but thise sequences did not present markedly
different characteristics than those found in nature. Myriad would
have discovered an important and useful gene, but the discovery, even
if innovative and brilliant, does not meet, per se, the legal patenting
requirements. Still, the exhausting process of such a discovery does
not meet the requirements of patentability, in the same way, because
already known and used widely by the scientific community.
So, to the Supreme Court, the isolated gene sequence would be
purely a product of nature not worthy of patent protection. However,
the cDNA, a synthetic DNA containing coding portions only, i.e. the
exons, does not occur naturally, and could receive protection, not being
invalidated claims based on cDNA, except in the case of short sequences
of cDNA that do not differentiate substantially from the natural DNA
(where there were no introns to be removed).
3. An analysis of the decision
The genetic sequences are an essential tool for fully
comprehending living beings, for they encompass all necessary
information for their operation, being the basic and fundamental pieces
for all that lives.
The requirements for obtaining a patent in the United States
are described in Title 35, Paragraph 101, of the U.S. Code, i.e. the
invention must be a new and useful process, machine, manufacture
or composition of matter, considering a broader interpretation with 3
limitations: the laws of nature, the natural and physical phenomena and
the abstract ideas, since those would be basic tools for science, therefore,
not subject of appropriation.
In this sense, an invention must: (a) be new; (b) have a utility and
(c) not be obvious. In general, we discuss the possibility of patenting 3
basic genetic materials: a) the natural DNA, found in nature, identical
to the natural product; b) the isolated DNA, which is the natural DNA
with the removal of the histones16 so the sequence (containing the entire
gene for a given function) is detached from the chromosome structure;
c) the cDNA, which is a synthetic DNA containing only the coding
regions for proteins present in the DNA (an exon-only DNA).
In general, when a gene is activated, the sequence is read and
copied in the transcription process17. Once the transcription process is
initiated, the histone proteins must be broken and the DNA strands are
separated in the transcription bubble. Note that, at this moment, the
natural DNA strand resembles the isolated DNA, even structurally.
Then, the copy of the genetic material is synthesized in a RNA
(ribonucleic acid). In sequence, the RNA has its structure modified,
including the removal of introns, so that the mRNA (messenger RNA)
is created. During the translation process, the mRNA codons are read
so that a specific amino acid is incorporated into the protein originated
from the nucleotide sequence inside that codon.
The mRNA during translation or protein synthesis, leads to the
incorporation of protein amino acids through their codons.
In the creation of cDNA, the reverse transcriptase enzyme
is applied on the segment of the mRNA, and, as from a completely
natural process, the cDNA is synthesised. Note that the sequences are
complementary to each other.
The first argument is that, in the synthetic preparations of
biological materials, there is a transformation of the DNA molecule
16 Proteins comprising the nucleosome, which function as the matrix in which DNA is wounded.
17 BOWMAN, Andrew. Genes 101: Are human genes patentable subject matter?. XVIII RICH.
J. L. & TECH. 15. Available at: http://jolt.richmond.edu/v18i4/article15.pdf. Accessed April 17,
2014. p. 17.
by human intervention into something structurally and functionally
different from its natural correspondence. This is because the desired
sequence is removed from the remainder of the chromosome requiring
the breaking of covalent bonds between the chromosome and its DNA
and such chemical alterations promote the creation of a new molecule
that does not exist in nature. There is a chemical change in the molecular
level, with a modification in the composition of substances (in a physical
change, there would be difference in appearance, odor, and no change
in the composition). The isolated sequences do not have the regulatory
regions; therefore, they are chemically different (different in structure).
Still, some consider that there is a functional difference in so
far as they provide a new use of the natural sequences, which can not
be manipulated and controlled in the same way. This is a justification,
considering a new use.
However, Andrew Bowman18 suggests that both structural and
informational differences should be analyzed, in order to respect the
judicial exception of the products of nature. For him, one must adopt
the posture of the totality of the circumstances approach. Thus, two
perspectives would have to be considered: a chemical perspective and
a biological one.
From a chemical point of view, the analysis of the molecular
structure is relevant. In this respect, there is a clear difference between
the three genetic materials under discussion, since all cases involve the
chemical breakdown.
Under a biological perspective, one must analyze the information
that the structure reveals. In this case, there is no substantial difference
between natural DNA and the isolated DNA since the genetic information
encompassed, in both cases, is still the same.
According to Bowman19, in order for a difference to exist, the
isolated DNA sequence should encode a protein sufficiently different
from that found in nature. However, for him, the cDNA would be subject
to patenting, which is in accordance with the decision of the Supreme
Court, although, in the end, it encodes the same protein. It states that
the mature mRNA undergoes significant changes during transcription,
specifically in regard to the removal of introns. In the "production" of
the cDNA, a synthetic DNA is created, being composed only of exons.
Among the three materials, it is easily observed a molecular
structural difference, but it must be verified if, in essence,
there is a difference in the genetic information they contain.
19 BOWMAN, Andrew. Op. cit. p. 22.
Judge Bryson20, in his aforementioned opinion, refers to the example of
minerals and leaves or plants taken from their origin. In such cases, there
may be, the same as in the case of the isolation of the DNA segment, too
much trouble and difficulties in the isolation process, but it does not mean
that it is patentable subject matter. This is because the leave was created
by nature, as well as the genomic DNA. For the isolated material to be
patentable one must visualize an additional step that is not superfluous,
that is more than conventional, obvious, routine or insignificant.
It is not hard to see the structural difference between the three
indicated genetic materials. For example, the BRCA 1 is only 1 of 1773
genes in the population of 81 million nucleotides of chromosome 17;
BRCA 2, in turn, is one of the 720 genes that make up the 115 million
chromosome 13's nucleotides21. The isolated sequence has 7 thousand
for the BRCA 1 and 11 thousand pairs, for BRCA2.
As for the chemical structural difference between natural DNA
and the isolated DNA, the Supreme Court held that the breaking
of chemical bonds would be sufficient to characterize the marked
difference of the product of nature.
In regard to the material, functional or biological difference
between the natural DNA and the isolated DNA, the US Supreme
Court understood that they are not distinguished from each other. The
Supreme Court determined that the isolated sequences do not deserve
protection, given that they are essentially indistinguishable from the
relevant portion of the DNA in question, encompassing the same
genetic information.
In concern with the cDNA, which is an exon-only fragment of
DNA, the Supreme Court understood that there is a difference from
nature. Exons are the DNA fragments necessary for the creation of a
protein; they differ from the introns, which do not encode any protein.
But, for a protein to be created, the DNA must be transcribed into RNA,
which is complementary to this sequence - this is the standard cell
pattern. However, this is still not enough, and this pre-RNA, containing
non-coding introns, has to be converted into mRNA, with the removal
of introns (splicing). This resulting mRNA is then translated into protein.
Obviously, the mRNAcan not be patented, being a product of nature.
From this mRNA, rather than translating into the protein, scientists
use it to create a sequence complementary to it, which is the cDNA.
Thus, since the cDNA is synthesized from mRNA, it contains only the
coding sequences, i.e., the exons, differing structurally from the natural
or the isolated sequence, which contains both introns and exons. The
cDNA then acts as a double-stranded mRNA, being more stable in
20 Judge Bryson's opinion. Available at: http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/images/stories/opinionsorders/10-1406.pdf. p. 88. Accessed April 17, 2014.
21 BOWMAN, Andrew. Op. cit.. p. 9.
vitro. However, this is merely temporary, since, once available to use
for screening genes or sequences, for example, it is immediately broken,
becoming a single stranded structure.
From a hereditary standpoint, it functions as an mRNA containing
the same genetic information. Biochemically, namely in terms of
structure, the mRNA differs only by the presence of ribonucleic acid
rather than deoxyribonucleic acid and the presence of the nitrogenous
base uracil instead of thymine present in DNA.
Now, one can not deny the structural difference is clear, but it
is nothing more than a mere shift in the coding of the protein, as both
the chromosomal DNA, the isolated sequence and the encoded protein,
would be considered products of nature, therefore, not patentable.
Scientists just created a new step to allow the patenting; they created
a subterfuge to the impossibility of patenting the DNA and the mRNA.
At the most, these are all processes and products predetermined by
nature. That isafter examining the procedure of the cDNA's synthesis,
one may find that it is nothing more than a sequence complementary to
the mRNA, which is found naturally. This is because the laws of nature
predetermine its sequence and function.
It can be concluded then that cDNA is nothing more than an obvious
consequence of the mRNA, which occurs naturally; as well as the isolated
sequence is a consequence, also obvious, in the purification process.
Still, it should be noted that, in the same way that the
isolated sequence is, the cDNA is a basic tool of genetic engineering,
preventing, at least to American law, researches based on that cDNA,
which is not beneficial to the scientific and technological development.
The very decision of Judge Robert Sweet in the 1st instance on the
Myriad Case22, referring to the isolated sequences, based on arguments
raised by the scientific community involved, decided that the patenting
of those would be a cool trick to circumvent the ban on patenting the
natural genetic code. Similarly, the cDNA patenting is a mockery of the
impossibility of patenting the natural code and isolated sequence - what
happens is the mere displacement of the impossibility barrier. One can
not deny the usefulness, but that use is not greater than that found in
4. The Brazilian law standpoint
Brazilian patent law seems to leave no room for doubt, denying
categorically the possibility of patenting the isolated gene sequences,
including the genome, in art. 10, IX, of the Brazilian Patent Law n. 9279/96
22 BEAUCHAMP, Christopher. The pure thoughts of Judge Hand: A historical note on
the patenting of nature. Available at: http://www.law.nyu.edu/sites/default/files/ECM_
PRO_071307.pdf. Accessed May 09, 2014. p. 3.
(LPI). However, this does not mean one can not determine whether such
sequences would be or not actual inventions and would not be the case to
adapt the legislation to the American model of interpretation.
The national constitutional principle underlying the industrial
property is in item XXIX of Article 5, stating that "the law shall ensure
the authors of industrial inventions a temporary privilege for their use,
as well as protection of industrial creations, property of trademarks, the
company names and other distinctive signs, in view of the social interest
and the technological and economic development of the country"23.
The Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual
Property Rights (TRIPs), of which Brazil is a signatory, states that:
Art. 7. The protection and enforcement of intellectual
property rights should contribute to the promotion
of technological innovation and to the transfer
and dissemination of technology, to the mutual
advantage of producers and users of technological
knowledge and in a manner conducive to social and
economic welfare, and to a balance of rights and
obligations.
Art. 8, 1. Members may, in formulating or amending
their laws and regulations, adopt measures
necessary to protect public health and nutrition,
and to promote the public interest in sectors of
vital importance to their socio-economic and
technological development, provided that such
measures are consistent with the provisions of this
The Brazilian Constitution ensures the fundamental right of a
protection to guarantee the authors of industrial inventions, and it is up to
infraconstitutional law to simply clarify what would or would not be an
invention. However, the exclusion of protection of certain inventions by
mere legislative policy, although possible and accepted, if made without
any basis in the protection of another fundamental right, may violate the
constitutional provision that guarantees the right of inventors.
Verifying Art. 5, XXIX, of the Brazilian Constitution, in its final
part, there is a purpose to be respected. This finalistic clause shows
that the rights relating to industrial property are not derived directly
23 This purpose clause is also found in the US Constitution: Art. I, S 8, cl 8. Constitution of the
United States. Powers of Congress. The Congress shall have power: to promote the progress
of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive
rights to their respective writings and discoveries.
from the Constitutional text, but rather from the infraconstitutional law,
which will only be in accordance with the Constitution if the objectives
of (i) targeting the corporate interest of the country (public interest);
(ii) promoting technological development of the country; and (iii)
promoting the economic development of the country are met.
There is some controversy regarding the language "in view of
the social interest and the technological and economic development
of the country", contained in item XXIX, of Art. 5, of the Brazilian
Constitution, if it would have an evaluative-finalistic content or more of
a determinative-conditional content – i.e. if it determines the granting
of a patent or if it orientates its purposes. It is understood that one does
not exclude the other. In this sense:
In regard to item XXIX, Art. 5 of the Brazilian
Constitution, the expression "in view of the social
interest and the technological and economic
development of the country" appears imprecise as
to the content that you should report. If not so, one
should not discuss it to be indicating an evaluativefinalistic content or conditional.24
Gustavo Tepedino25 adds that even if industrial (intellectual)
property has an artificial content, it must, in any event, take account of the
social function or purpose, conditioned such subjective legal situations to
all relevant social interests and developments of the human personality:
Thus, trademarks, patents and all expressions of
so-called "intellectual property" are artificially
developed under the molds of a proprietary status,
just to attract the protective efficacy that is attributed
to private property. Also, in these cases, however,
one can not fail to mention the social function
which must be performed by these new subjective
legal situations, which must also be contingent on
the relevant social interests and development of the
human personality, greater purpose of our civil and
constitutional system.
This should be understood as the very social function of
24 GRAU-KUNTZ, Karin. Direito de patentes: sobre a interpretação do art. 5º, XXIX, da
Constituição Brasileira. Available at: http://www.newmarc.com.br/ibpi/d_pat.html. Accessed
25 TEPEDINO, Gustavo. A garantia da propriedade no direito brasileiro. Available at: http://
fdc.br/Arquivos/Mestrado/Revistas/Revista06/Docente/04.pdf. Accessed May 26, 2014.
industrial property law, despite the controversy surrounding its
legal status or nature. Technological progress is achieved and free
competition guaranteed, when the patent system works (a) as a stimulus
and encouragement to inventive activity; (b) as an incentive to the
disclosure of technical information generated for the production of the
invention by the inventor to the public, because of the contribution to
the prior art; and (c) as encouragement to the spread of inventions, there
is a balance in the rights conferred by the patent26.
Thus, when the infraconstitutional law deviates from the
possibility of patenting certain inventions (considering that falls within
the doctrinal and factual concept, but not legal) which could mean a
breakthrough in technological and economic development of the country,
one can understand that such legal discrimination is in dissonance with
the Constitution, since it neglects the interests of the technological and
economic development27.
Any restriction to a fundamental right (as is the right
of inventors, in Art. 5, XXIX, of the Brazilian Constitution)
proportionality.
Therefore, it is not a simple privilege established by law which must be
interpreted narrowly, but a freedom or a fundamental right guaranteed
as such, that should be interpreted broadly28. That is, a true balance
of interests between the right to patent protection, free competition,
freedom of initiative and the right to scientific and technological
development must be pursued.
When there are one or more fundamental rights at stake - in this
case, the right to protection of intellectual property, the value of free
enterprise, free competition and the right to scientific and technological
development - should they suffer weighting process due to the value
they want to protect. In other words, it is possible that fundamental
26 DIAFÉRIA, Adriana. Patente de genes humanos e a tutela dos interesses difusos: o direito
ao progresso econômico, científico e tecnológico. Rio de Janeiro: Lumen Juris, 2007. p. 176.
27 We clarify that, according to Adriana Diaféria, the final part of item XXIX, of Art. 5, of the
Brazilian Constitution does not indicate only a social function to be attended, but a true right of
the collectivity. To her, "it is presupposed in the granting of private industrial property rights which aims to ensure the possibility of absolute exercise of rights to an invention - the protection
of a higher legal interest which is the technological, economic, and, in consequence, scientific
interest of the country (Art. 5, XXIX, CF). (...) The right of the inventor/patent holder and the
right of the community to advance economic, scientific and technologically (...)."DIAFÉRIA,
Adriana. Patente de genes humanos e a tutela dos interesses difusos: o direito ao progresso
econômico, científico e tecnológico. Rio de Janeiro: Lumen Juris, 2007. p. 158.
28 We highlight that it is also a freedom, such as the freedom of initiative or the freedom of
competition, and, in that sense, one should not simply apply the interpretation of rules system
but the principles weighting system.
rights are restricted, and such restrictions are subject to limitations29.
Thus, the balance of interests must be undertaken from the
perspective of proportionality, which is composed of the subprinciples
of suitability, the subprinciple of the need for such measure and the
subprinciple of proportionality in the strict sense. The principle of
proportionality serves as a parameter to gauge the conduct of the
legislature when it concerns limitations to fundamental rights, such as
the limitation imposed by infraconstitutional legislation (art. 10 and 18,
of the LPI) on the rights of inventors (Art. 5, XXIX, of the Brazilian
Constitution).
In this sense:
[...] The fundamental right to patent protection in
Brazil is subject only to restrictions arising from
a qualified legal reserve, as provided in Art. 5 °,
XXIX, of the Constitution. Thus, the legal regulation
of such right, operated by Law No. 9,279 / 96, (...)
is subject to a constitutional filtering threefold: (i)
formal: a formal Law is required for regulation; (ii)
express content: the requirement that the regulatory
law has "the social interest and the technological
and economic development of the country" in view;
(iii) of subtext: the requirement that the regulatory
law performs, thoughtfully, an accommodation
between the constitutional values involved in right to
patent protection, seeking a great point of maximum
achievement of them all; moreover, the law must
respect, in the weighting, the core of the intellectual
property right, without which there is no limitation,
but a true suppression of the fundamental right.30
The first issue to be addressed is the subprinciple of suitability,
which consists on the adequacy of the measure adopted to achieve
the intended purpose, i.e., there must be consistency in the means-end
relationship. "The adequacy of means to ends translates into a requirement
that any restriction must be suitable to achieve the persecuted purpose
because if it is not able to do so, is to be considered unconstitutional."31
29 BARROS, Suzana de Toledo. O princípio da proporcionalidade e o controle de
constitucionalidade das leis restritivas de direitos fundamentais. 2ª ed. Brasília: Brasília
Jurídica, 2000. p. 160.
30 GAMA JUNIOR, Lauro; e BINENBOJM, Gustavo. O direito à proteção patentária como
direito fundamental: interpretações sistemática, teleológica, constitucional e internacional.
Available at: www.mundojuridico.adv.br/cgi-bin/upload/texto820.rtf. Accessed May 23, 2014.
31 BARROS, Suzana de Toledo. Op. cit. p. 76.
Thus, limitations of public policy on property rights or privilege,
understood also as a fundamental right in our constitutional order, must
be in the exact measure to ensure free competition and technological
As for the subprinciple of the need of such measure, the
restrictive measure is essential to the conservation of itself or another
fundamental right that can not be replaced by another equally effective,
but less onerous measure.
In regard to intellectual property rights, one must pay attention
to the fact that they should be granted broadly, given that there are
more effective means of control without presuming the abuse of patent
holders, namely, the compulsory licensing, under Arts. 68 and following,
of the LPI.
If there are equally effective means, but less harmful or
restrictive, that permit the achievement of the same goal, the measure is
not reputable - that is, to impose legal limitations on what fits perfectly
into the category of invention, being possible for the state to control
the use of the privilege granted by the compulsory license, as well as
with the possibility of not to impede research, even by legal provision,
pursuant to Art. 43, II, LPI, it is not appropriate to exclude that category
of invention from the concept of invention by mere public policy. What
is meant is that there are other ways of performing the public policy that
do not simply seal the possibilities of patenting.
The measure "is required when the legislature could not have
chosen otherwise, another equally effective measure that would not
limit or limit in the least significant way the fundamental right."32
In reference to the proportionality in the strict sense subprinciple,
the matter is to indicate whether the measure used is in reasonable
proportion to the end pursued, in regards to the idea of balance
the values and
 assets.
In the specific case of gene sequences, we should take into
consideration, then, assuming that there really is an invention at stake33:
(i) If the exclusion of the possibility of patenting, based on
32 BARROS, Suzana de Toledo. Op. cit.. p. 80.
33 We clarify that regarding the genetic materials, the isolated sequences are not a true
invention, for they are mere products of nature; however, the synthetic cDNA, based on the
understandings of the Supreme Court, is a true invention. We reserve our understanding that the
cDNA encompasses the same genetic information as the mRNA and its stability does not confer
it a sufficient marked difference. As for the recombinant DNA, we understand that it is a true
invention, although the recombined protein may not be. As for the other biological materials,
one should verify the structural and functional difference in order to verify if they are different
from nature. If it presents a marked difference, it should be considered a true invention. It
should also be taken into consideration if the public policy rules exclusions from inventions are
really legit regarding the interests pursued by law.
needs of public policy, a true invention is a suitable measure to
achieve the social interest and the technological and economic
development of the country;
(ii) If that occurs, whether there are alternative means to such
exclusion, and less onerous to the fundamental right in question
that are also able to achieve the same purposes;
(iii) If this also occurs, if the degree of importance of holding
the ends justifies the degree of restriction imposed on the
fundamental right at stake.
This is because the first step to be taken in accordance with
national law is to check if the supposed creation is an actual invention,
according to Art. 10, I, of the LPI. Thus, the analysis must begin with
the distinction between discovery and invention, even for the inspection
of the legislative limit of interference in the sphere of the fundamental
right of the inventor. In this sense, it is recommended that, since the
possibility of patenting some genetic materials may signify a market
advantage in the pharmaceutical industry, studies should be conducted
in order to determine how much they mean to the technological and
economic development, in order to be proposed or not a modification
in the Brazilian legislation.
We understand that if there is a competitive advantage in
the patenting of these materials, attracting players and investment
to countries that grant the patent, it should be made a change in the
national practice, so we can offer a more competitive market on the
same terms. The IMD World Competitiveness Center, pioneer in the
field of Competitiveness of Nations and World Economy Ranking,
considers, as a subfactor, in Infrastructure (Scientific Infrastructure),
the number of patent applications, patent grants, number of patents in
force, intellectual property rights, laws relanting to scientific research
to encourage innovation as factors to evaluate the competitiveness of
a country. In 2014, the United States of America was placed in the
first position, while Brazil was placed in the 54th position, among 60
countries of various levels of development34.
That is, the limitations of law, by public policy, on the patenting
of inventions, such as Art. 10, IX, and Art. 18, III, both of the LPI,
without any support in meeting the social function of promoting
scientific and technological development, should be avoided.
With respect to the LPI, it expressly enunciates what can not be
patented, either because it is not an invention, either by a prohibition.
Such restrictions must be interpreted strictly in order to limit the
possibility of the inventor's fundamental and constitutional right. That
is, in principle, everything is an invention, unless those exclusions
34 Available at www.imd.org/uupload/IMD.WebSite/wcc/WCYResults/l/scoreboard_2014.pdf.
Acessed May 11, 2015.
listed in Art. 10 of the LPI35. Thus, as a rule, all technical solution to a
technical problem (invention) which is new, not obvious to one skilled
in the art, and which allows unlimited reproduction without human
intervention in each case is an invention36.
Also, the language in Art. 18, of the LPI, by not considering a few
creations as inventions, intends to repute the granting of the privilege
in a broader sense, since every and all inventions not mentioned in the
legal prohibitions should be patentable subject matter37.
Art. 10. It should not be considered inventions or
utility models: (...)
Art. 18. It shall not be patentable subject matter: (...)
Denis Borges Barbosa, contrary to the above proposed, affirms
that the laws that grant patent rights should be strictly interpreted,
taking into account the reasonableness and prudence applicable to the
case38. This is because the freedom of initiative is the greater purpose of
the law and that all exceptions to that, such as the intellectual property
rights, should be interpreted in a strict sense39. The author bases his
position on Diogo de Figueiredo's teachings40:
[...] The principles that define freedoms prefer to
the ones that condition or restrict them; and the
ones that grant powers to the State yield to the ones
that reserve powers to individuals, and the ones that
reinforce the spontaneous order are preferred over
the ones that derogate it.
The freedom is obviously of initiative and information,
35 BARBOSA, Pedro Marcos Nunes; BARBOSA, Denis Borges. O Código da Propriedade
Industrial conforme os Tribunais – comentado com precedentes judiciais. Furnished by the
authors, via e-mail, on December 13, 2013. p. 6.
36 BARBOSA, Pedro Marcos Nunes; BARBOSA, Denis Borges. Op. cit.. p. 7.
37 DEL NERO, Patrícia Aurélia. Propriedade Intelectual: A tutela jurídica da biotecnologia.
São Paulo, SP: Ed. Revista dos Tribunais, 1998. p. 78.
38 BARBOSA, Denis Borges. Relatório de Análise da incorporação do conhecimento levantado
e sua possível aplicação no Brasil Contrato n. 2010/000426. PROGRAMA DAS NAÇÕES
UNIDAS PARA O DESENVOLVIMENTO. SERVIÇOS DE CONSULTORIA. PROJETO PNUD/
BRA/06/032. BRASÍLIA. Termo de Referência n. 133963. Furnished by the author, via e-mail,
on December 2013. p. 14.
39 BARBOSA, Denis Borges. Op. cit. p. 15.
40 MOREIRA NETO, Diogo de Figueiredo. A ordem econômica na Constituição de 1988.
Revista da PGE-RJ, n. 42, p. 59. Apud BARBOSA, Denis Borges. Op. cit.. p. 15.
impeded by the privileges and exclusive rights. The
spontaneous order is the free flow of ideas and
creations, and the spread of technology.
The author also cites the work of Carlos Maximiliano41, affirming
that the Brazilian Civil law42 explicitly consolidated the classic precept
- excepctiones sunt strictissimae interpretationis ("the exceptions are
to be interpreted in the most strict sense"). He continues his thought,
stating that the same guidance should be given to the rules that grant a
privilege to certain people.
In general, for the isolated sequences, these would be mere
discoveries for not having any difference from the products of nature,
as already explained. Thus, even if there were no legal exclusion in
the item IX, of Art. 10, these materials would not be considered as
an invention, being mere discoveries, they would be already excluded
based on the item I.
Denis Borges Barbosa also points out that the exclusion from
patenting of the isolated materials should be in the language of Art. 18,
of the LPI, for this would be an exclusion based on public policy:
[...] One can not decree what is or is not an invention,
since it is a matter of fact – in a classic definition – being
a technical solution to a technical problem. The language
in Art. 10 indicates this notion, but it can not determine,
for example, that a knowledge that leads to a technical
solution to a technical problem is no longer an invention.
The law can make something that is an invention to not
be patentable; but the locus for this is in Art. 1843.
We understand that, technically, the association of a particular
gene sequence to its function implies a mere discovery - a mere
revelation of its function. This discovery, although extremely important,
is a progress that must integrate the scientific knowledge basis - that is,
41 MAXIMILIANO, Carlos. Hermenêutica e Aplicação do Direito. 15ª ed. Forense: Rio de
Janeiro, 1995. p. 225.
42 This understanding is in connection with the 1916 Brazilian Civil Code, which was revoked
by Brazilian Civil Code of 2002. However, the Brazilian Civil Code of 1916 being substituted
by the 2002 Code has no impact to this position, since it is a principle for the interpretation for
laws widely preserved.
on December, 2013. p. 14.
it only proves what already is in nature. Moreover, the use of a sequence
in a specific process or product that is not obvious (not based only in
the identified function) could be regarded as an invention, but not the
isolated sequence itself - it is a mere discovery.
So, in summary, for the isolated gene sequences, there is a
categorical prohibition and, in our view, they would be mere discoveries.
For the other products found in nature, it should be verified in a
case to case basis if there is a structural and functional difference from
the product of nature.
We also emphasize that not everything found in nature is organic,
as it involves the meaning of "life". Therefore, when the language in
item IX, Art. 10, of the LPI excludes only the "biological materials
found in nature", it leaves room for the appropriation of non-organic
products found in nature. Certainly, these products could not be
patented because they are mere discoveries, if not present a structural
and functional difference, but there is a legislative atecnia that could be
avoided by simply deleting the item IX of Art. 10 of the LPI.
Another point that can be highlighted is that the LPI also states
that "the genome or germplasm of any natural living being and the natural
biological processes" are also not patentable. Thus, a first conclusion
about the possibility of patenting in the Brazilian legislation is that we may
patent the genetic sequence of a non-natural living being. For that matter,
natural beings are the products of nature (those that occur naturally and
have not been the result of human inventiveness). Consequently, nonnatural beings would be those that would not occur naturally and are
not found in nature. As an example, the genetically modified organisms.
Thus, the gene sequences, with identified functions, from genetically
modified organisms could be embraced by the patent, since not included
in the categorical prohibition. Another possibility of patenting would be
the recombinant DNA, and sometimes, if distinct from the one found in
nature, the recombinant protein.
As for the synthetic cDNA44, structurally distinct from the natural
DNA, we understand that it contains the same genetic information as
the mRNA, which is a product of nature, and does not meet the concept
44 We highlight that cDNA is a necessary step in most researches, then being necessary and
obvious. "Among the technologies for the analysis of the gene expression, widely used, the
most used and economic viable, in terms of quantity and quality of the generated information,
are (i) the large scaled sequencing of cDNA libraries, that generate the information known
as EST (expressed sequence tags); (ii) the technology known as SAGE (serial analysis of
gene expression); (iii) DNA microarrays or chips (...) The (cDNA) libraries are prepared from
isolated mRNA from interest samples, by using the reverse transcriptase enzyme, that generates
a DNA complementary to the mRNA" MARQUES, Marilis do Valle; SILVA, Aline Maria da.
Genômica funcional: transcriptoma. In MIR, Luís (org.). Genômica. São Paulo, SP: Atheneu,
2004. p. 123.
of invention.
However, since in the international scenery the cDNA has
been accepted as patentable subject matter, we recommend giving this
material such treatment, in order to reach homogenization regarding the
theme and approximating Brazil in terms of competitiveness.
We also stress that, according to Art. 18 of the LPI, which states
the prohibition of patenting a few inventions in regards to public policy,
it includes in such prohibitions all or part of living beings, and we could
interpret such prohibition to include the genetic sequences as part of
living beings.
Art. 18. It shall not be patentable:
III - the whole or part of living beings, except
transgenic microorganisms that meet the three
patentability requirements - novelty, inventive step
and industrial application - provided for in Art. 8
and which are not mere discoveries.
Sole paragraph. For purposes of this Law,
transgenic microorganisms are organisms, except
the whole or part of plants or animals that express,
through direct human intervention in their genetic
composition, a characteristic normally not
attainable by the species under natural conditions.
However, this would be a broad interpretation on a restriction to
a fundamental right, as seen previously, which should not be accepted.
That is, to the restriction it must be given the strictest interpretation that
meets the objectives of the law. Therefore, it is not possible to interpret
the genetic sequence as a part of a living being, because when the law
refered to the genome or genetic sequences, even generically, it did
explicitly (Art. 10, IX, and Sole Paragraph of Art. 18, both of the LPI).
In summary, (i) natural or isolated sequences are not an invention;
(ii) other biological materials found in nature merely isolated are not an
invention; (iii) biological materials that are not found in nature may be
an invention (e.g., genetically modified); (iv) non-biological materials
merely isolated and found in nature are discoveries and could not be
patented; (v) non-biological materials, even if found in nature, could be
patented, if they meet the structural and functional difference requirement
(marked difference); (vi) the cDNA, which is a biological material (despite
our reservation, since, in our view, it would be technically a discovery,
however, is not the understanding that has prevailed in American
jurisprudence), has been understood as an invention and should not be
confused with the concept of genome and can, therefore, be patented anyway, it is not a natural material, but rather synthetic - that is, there is
no express prohibition in Brazilian law; (vii) the recombinant DNA is an
invention and can be patented as it is not a natural material. On the other
hand, the recombinant protein that is identical to the one found naturally
would not be considered an invention.
The contribution of the Myriad Case for the interpretation of
Brazilian law is, given that it established the specific basis for the
classification of some genetic materials as discoveries or inventions, it
facilitaded the interpretation of Brazilian law. It is so that the Brazilian
Patent and Trademark Office (BPTO) has issued new guidelines for
the analysis of the patentability of biological materials, which will be
addressed to later.
The parameter of interpretation of the law by the BPTO must
take into account the principle of legality.
If the current legislation excludes the possibility of patenting
biological materials found in nature, even if isolated, including the
genome, the administrator can not grant patents for isolated sequences.
On the other hand, we do not see in the law, a categorical prohibition for
the patenting of the recombinant DNA, the cDNA and the recombinant
protein, if present the marked difference.
Chemical compounds found in nature do not suffer protection,
pursuant to sections I and IX of Art. 10 of the LPI. Also, the chemical
compounds obtained synthetically that match the naturally occurring
compounds without distinction are not considered as an invention, in
accordance with the provisions of item I of Art. 10 of the LPI, if not
biological, or in item IX, if organic.
On November 2012, the BPTO has made available for public
consultation the new Patent Applications Examination Guidelines
for the Biotechnology Area45, finally approving, on March 12, 2015,
the Resolution 144/2015, establishing the new Order of Examination
Guidelines for Patents in the Biotechnology Area ("Guide").
According to this new Guide, in section 1.146, which
deals with the industrial application requirement, we find that
the BPTO believes that the isolated gene sequence with the
identified function as a marker to diagnose prostate cancer, for
45 INPI. Diretrizes de Exame de Pedidos de Patente na Área Biotenológica. Available at: http://
www.inpi.gov.br/images/docs/diretriz_biotecnologia_consulta_publica_30_11_12_original_0.
pdf. Accessed May 27, 2014.
46 The genetic sequences even have their own eletronic listing system, under Administrative
Order n. 81/2013. Available at: http://www.inpi.gov.br/images/docs/resolucao_81-2013_-_
listagem_de_sequencias.pdf. Accessed May 27, 2014. And also Administrative Order n. 229/09.
Available at: http://www.inpi.gov.br/images/stories/Resoluo_228-09-ANEXO.pdf. Accessed
example, meets the industrial application requirement by clearly
revealing a practical use. But it does not state that it is an invention.
Still, in item 4 of the Guide, we have access to the concepts and
understandings of the BPTO on the legal text (subsection 4.1), relating
the subject matters excluded from patent protection. In this sense:
the "whole" (of natural living beings) refers to
plants, animals, microorganisms and any living
being;
"Natural part of living organisms" refers to any
portion of the living beings, such as organs, tissues
and cells;
"Biological materials found in nature" include
all or part of living beings, and extracts, lipids,
carbohydrates, proteins, DNA, RNA, or parts or
fragments thereof as well as any substance produced
from biological systems, for example hormones
and other secreted molecules, viruses, prions. It is
worth mentioning that synthetic molecules identical
or indistinguishable from their natural counterparts
are also contained in this definition;
By "isolated from nature" means any material
extracted and subjected to a process of isolation
and / or purification;
"Genome" is the set of genetic information of a cell,
organism or virus;
"Germplasm" is the hereditary material set of a
representative sample of individuals of the same
species.
"Natural biological process" is any biological
process that occurs spontaneously in nature and
where human intervention does not affect the final
result.
Analyzing the item that encompasses organic products, item
4.2.1.1, we find that such products even if produced synthetically, to
receive patent protection, may not correspond to a naturally occurring
product. Thus, because they are merely isolated products, they lack of
protection. However, if they are enriched, they would be eligible for
protection when they have reached characteristics that are not found
usually in the species and are based on direct human intervention.
The section 6 of the Guide deals specifically with biological
sequences, such as nucleotides, amino acids and proteins. In such
section, we note that the BPTO indicates that some requirements
should receive special attention, namely: 1) the need to include the
biological sequence in the patent application in order to meet the
sufficient description requirement (Art. 24); 2) natural occurrence (Art.
10, IX).; 3) clarity, precision and justification (Art. 25) in the way such
molecules/sequences are claimed; 4) novelty (Art. 11); 5) inventive
step (Art. 13); and 6) industrial application (Art. 15).
We emphasize that the novelty requirement, when related to
biological sequences, follows the same general principle, namely, that
a sequence of amino acids or nucleotides to not be considered new, face
to the prior art, all nucleotides or amino acids should be exactly the
same and be in the same order as the sequence known in the state of the
art. The nucleotide sequences may be referred to in patent applications
in different ways: genes, vectors, plasmids, DNA sequence, RNA
sequence, nucleic acid, oligonucleotides, primers, cDNA, and others.
There are different ways to make changes in the nucleotide
sequences in order to differentiate them from their natural sequences,
and the simple insertion of the term "recombinant" is not sufficient to
distinguish it from the natural sequence47.
Deletion of nucleotides in the middle of a claimed to be modified
sequence is sufficient to distinguish it from its natural correspondent namely the removal of introns, for example, would be sufficient to provide
modified structural difference. However, if the deleted nucleotide is at the
end of the sequence, the modification is not sufficient, since the resulting
sequence would be identical to the natural sequence.
The BPTO further believes that various substitutions of
nucleotides in a given sequence may not result in any change in the
protein encoded thereby, due to the degeneracy of the genetic code.
Therefore, when analyzing the patenting of a sequence, one must assess
whether there is an inventive step in modifying (either insertion, deletion
or substitution), taking into account the fact that some groups of amino
acids have common properties. Thus, the inventive requirement depends
on demonstrating an unexpected effect generated by the change in the
state of the art.
As for the cDNA, in particular, the Guide addresses to it in item
6.3.6. We note that, according to the same guide, one should give the
47 This is because the recombinant or recombined product may be a mere reproduction of what is
already found in nature, being only manufactured in a diferent way rather than the conventional
one, by means of an insertion in a host. Or it may be a true product of the recombination.
ESTs the same type of treatment given to the cDNA. In the case of
cDNA derived from messenger RNA (mRNA), normally, it is going
to be different from the product of nature, as the sequence will present
only the exons. Thus, in these cases it can not be considered that the
cDNA molecule is equal to a natural molecule, and their patentability
should be evaluated based on the requirements of novelty, inventive step
and industrial application. On the other hand, when cDNA molecules
are derived from mRNAs that lack introns naturally, obviously, the
cDNA constitution will be equal to said strand DNA / gene served as a
template for the synthesis of the mRNA. Thus, in these cases, the cDNA
is not considered an invention, on the basis of Art. 10 (IX) of the LPI.
In the cases of cDNA obtained from other types of RNA (such as tRNA,
rRNA, etc.), they must be checked whether they are identical to natural
DNA, a situation in which they would not be considered an invention.
In other words, it is exactly the understanding outlined in
the US Supreme Court's decision in the Myriad Case and can serve
as a parameter to the BPTO's understandings, not bumping into any
legislative obstacles, as verified. Thus, the understandings outlined in
the Myriad Case take relevance as they contribute to the elucidation
of the framework of genetic materials, assisting the BPTO in building
its understanding within the legal parameters of interpretation under
which it may act.
This study aimed to sketch the complexity of whether or not to
patent some genetic material. Thus, the objectives were: (i) to analyze
the Myriad Case, exposing the final decision of the US Supreme Court;
(ii) to identify if such decision was correct; and (iii) to analyze if the
Brazilian Intellectual Property Law grants protection to gene sequences,
demonstrating the impact of the decision in the Myriad Case.
To achieve these goals, the focus was on the analysis of the
Myriad Case, in which there was the emblematic decision of the
US Supreme Court for not recognizing the possibility of patenting
isolated genetic sequences. Therefore, the decision was important to
set parameters for distinguishing between a discovery and an invention,
specifically with regard to genetic sequences.
In general, the invention is a technical solution to a technical
problem, to be the creation of something hitherto non-existent; finding,
moreover, is somewhat simpler than the existing disclosure. It is only
justified the monopoly of intellectual property, restricting the free
competition, when it is necessary to grant protection to inventions, in view
of the social function that such granted intellectual property protection
must fulfill (promoting scientific and technological development).
When patenting genetic sequences, it is clear that what is at stake,
in fact, is the genetic information necessary for conducting research and
promoting scientific development, since they are often basic tools for science.
That is, the patentability analysis under the Brazilian legal text
must go through an analysis of the legislative policy interests, pondering:
the need to ensure the return of investments; the need to protect
biodiversity and heritage of a nation; and the need to encourage the
development of research for promotion of scientific and technological
development, among others.
From the moment the desire to patent these materials is
identified as a competitive tool, one should consider whether this is a
viable possibility, according to the Brazilian intellectual property legal
system. The starting point for such an analysis was the Myriad Case.
In the Myriad Case it was established that the isolated gene
sequence was a mere discovery: the identification of the function of
a single gene would be just the revelation of something already found
in nature, containing information that should serve to common human
knowledge. On the other hand, the US Supreme Court stated that the
cDNA is patentable matter, since it is not found in nature in that way,
once the natural DNA strands contains the introns and exons and the
cDNA contains only exons.
We point out that the decision was correct in the sense of removing
the protection for isolated DNA sequence, according to American law,
but that, technically, the same grounds used to remove protection for the
isolated sequence can be used with regard to the cDNA. Clearly, in both
cases there is a structural difference from the product found in nature,
but for the isolated sequence, the US Supreme Court has not recognized
the functional difference. Likewise, the cDNA is complementary to the
mRNA (which is not subject to patent), therefore there is no substantial
functional difference between those fragments.
This was the prevailing understanding, although technically incorrect.
Thus, in summary:
(i) The product must be truly an invention and not a mere
discovery;
(ii) A product identical to the existing product, even if derived
from a new source, does not meet the novelty requirement;
(iii) A merely extracted product may not be patented;
(iv) An isolated product should be much more useful than its
natural form;
(v) The product will only be considered an invention if present
structural and functional differences in relation to a product of
natural occurrence;
(vi) The characterization of the functional difference may stem
from a significantly higher utility (greater) (new therapeutic and
commercial value).
According to the LPI, to be patentable, an invention must meet
the requirements of novelty, inventive step and industrial application
(Art. 8). Established that, despite the controversy, we understood that
the right of inventors, regardless of its legal nature, is a fundamental
right with constitutional protection (Art. 5, XXIX, of the Brazilian
Constitution). Thus, the interpretation of what is to be an invention must
be broad and any restriction on this right must be strictly interpreted.
Therefore, Art. 10, of the LPI is to be interpreted in the strictest possible
way since it limits a fundamental right.
It is possible to restrict a fundamental righ - that is, in principle;
there is no unconstitutionality in it. However, such restrictions
should consider the principles at stake, namely: the free market and
free enterprise, the right to intellectual property and scientific and
technological development. A restriction to the fundamental right
must be necessary, appropriate and proportionate to the objective to be
accomplished, taking always in account the possibility of making use
of compulsory licensing in the case of patent law abuse.
The BPTO, because it is a public administration office, must act
guided by the principle of legality, so it can only act in strict legal terms
- that is, it can grant or deny a patent based on strict legal terms.
In this sense, item IX of Art. 10 of the LPI, which deals
specifically with the biological materials found in nature, including the
genome, considers such products as not being an invention, with voices
in the doctrine stating that, in fact, the law only excludes from patenting
products that would be considered inventions - that is, the item would
be best placed in Art. 18, of the LPI.
Continuing, from a more detailed analysis of the term "found
in nature", we find item IX of Art. 10, of the LPI to not be technicaly
correct, not even if placed in Art. 18, because it should not exist at
all, since "found in nature, although isolated" would signify a mere
discovery, which is already encompassed in item I of Art. 10. In other
words, the item is unnecessary.
In reference to genetic materials, purely isolated sequences
would be simple discoveries, since there is no functional difference
from the product of nature.
With regard to the cDNA, the US Supreme Court understood to
exist a functional difference. We understand that, although not found
in nature in this way, the cDNA simply carries the same information
contained in the gene. Similarly to the isolation, cDNA encompasses
information that nature has produced, being complementary to the
mRNA from which it derived.
The cDNA is the real working tool for genetic engineering
(and not the merely isolated sequence), since it is more stable than the
isolated DNA sequence itself. It is the cDNA that is contained in the
basic genomic libraries for genetic engineering techniques. Therefore,
the decision is innocuous for patent titleholders of isolated genetic
sequences, since it is common practice to claim the cDNA in the
application also.
Because one can not patent mRNA, because of its
natural occurrence, the obvious solution would be to patent
the cDNA - that is, it is a true fraud to the patent system.
However, as the cDNA patenting was established as possible in
world practice, it should be applied such understanding in Brazil as a
competitive tool, attracting investors in biotechnology to Brazil, which
seek, here, to protect their rights.
What this study aimed to clarify is that the analysis of biological
materials, taking as a basis the analysis of genetic material, should always
be in a case by case analysis and in accordance with basic principles
of the intellectual property system. That is, it must be considered that
only the inventions themselves deserve protection and that any patent
impossibility of such inventions should find support in consideration
with other fundamental rights.
Still, par excellence, products found naturally can not
be considered invention, but simple discovery. We add that the
differentiation between natural products and products that do not occur
naturally can not just be on synthetic or isolated terms, having to present
the marked difference (structural and functional). We understand also
that the functional difference, as the genetic sequences, will not exist
when they transmit the same genetic information as the natural sequence.
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