In response to the rulings of the Patents Court within the High Court of Justice for England & Wales on 18 February 2021, MGI makes the following statement:
We welcome the Court’s decision to grant us permission to appeal the judgment, and we intend to file our appeal with the Court of Appeal. As permitted by the Court, we will continue to supply sequencing reagents to our existing customers in the UK during the appeal period.
Although MGI is appealing aspects of the judgment, it is important to reiterate that we concur with the Court’s previous ruling that Illumina’s European Patent (EP) 1 828 412 on methods of sequencing by synthesis using ascorbic acid is invalid for obviousness and that MGI’s CoolMPS sequencing method does not infringe this patent. We also agree with the finding that MGI’s CoolMPS sequencing does not infringe EP 2 021 415, which covers a linker and rhodamine dye combination.
It should be noted that our advanced laboratory automation equipment is not affected by this lawsuit. We will continue to protect the interests of our customers, research collaborators, and business partners in the UK.
As a company committed to innovating core tools and technology to foster the development of the global life-science industry, we strongly oppose the abuse of patent litigation to maintain market monopoly and suppress fair competition.
