Qiagen, Applied Biosystems settle patent dispute
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
Qiagen and Applied Biosystems have settled a patent dispute over real-time PCR detection technology, clearing all litigation between the two firms. Last year, Applied Biosystems filed a complaint in Germany against Corbett which alleged that the latter's Rotor-Gene real-time PCR cycler technology infringed patents that Applied Biosystems held for real-time thermal cycler instruments. Corbett responded by filing a separate suit against Applied Biosystems in California. In June 2008, Qiagen bought Corbett for $135m (see Clinica No 1313, p 3), thus assuming responsibility for Corbett’s lawsuit. As part of the resolution, Corbett has taken a license from Foster City, California-based Applied Biosystems, which will enable it to sell its Rotor-Gene for all fields, including molecular research and human and animal in vitro diagnostics purposes. Financial terms of the settlement were not disclosed.