No Cheap Way Out for Affymetrix
This article was originally published in Start Up
Executive Summary
The English High Court has ruled that Affymetrix's attempt to gain license to chip-making technology owned by Oxford Gene Technology (OGT), by making certain arrangements with Beckman Coulter, didn't work. It doesn't have any rights, the Justice says. Affymetrix will appeal, but UK-based OGT believes the California company's DNA chips definitely fall under the scope of its fundamental patent. OGT--which hopes to profit from its technology through out-licensing deals--expect that the UK decision will help it in the infringement suit it has brought against Affymetrix in the US. That case will be heard in October.