§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the President of the Board of Trade how many patents have been issued in the United Kingdom by the Patent Office and how many by the European Patent Office valid in the United Kingdom incorporating genetic material of plant origin or derivation. [28456]
§ Mr. Ian TaylorA search of electronic databases using classification terms shows that some 250 patent applications published by the European Patent Office and the United Kingdom Patent Office relate to genetic material of plant origin or derivation. Each application would have to be checked individually to ascertain whether it has resulted in a patent valid in the United Kingdom, which would involve disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the President of the Board of Trade how many patents have been issued in the United Kingdom by the Patent Office and how many by the European Patent Office valid in the United Kingdom incorporating genetic material of human origin or derivation. [28455]
§ Mr. Ian TaylorA search of electronic databases using classification terms and key words show that some 1,540 patent applications published by the European Patent Office and the United Kingdom Patent Office relate to genetic material of human origin or derivation. Each application would have to be checked individually to ascertain whether it has resulted in a patent valid in the United Kingdom, which would involve disproportionate cost.