U.S. Congress regulatory update

The House of Representatives passed HR 587, the Biotechnology Process Patent Protection Act. The legislation, which had passed the Senate, has been endorsed by the Patent and Trademark Office. President Clinton is expected to sign it rapidly.

HR 587, introduced by Rep. Carlos Moorhead, R-Calif., overturns a 1985 case, In re Durden, which set a standard for novelty whereby products produced using previously known processes could not receive patent protection. ...