Illumina Files a 2nd Patent Lawsuit Against BGI

Illumina is filing yet another patent lawsuit against one of BGI Group’s subsidiaries, BGI Europe A/S. The San Diego-based company has filed the suit in the Martime & Commercial High Court of Denmark.

Illumina is alleging that BGI’s sequencing products including the BGISeq-500, MGISeq-2000, and related chemistry reagents, infringe EP 3 002 289 B1. Illumina said this patent covers its sequencing-by-synthesis chemistry. The complaint also alleges that BGI’s use of the MGISEQ mark infringes Illumina’s registered EU Trademark No. 8972127 for the MISEQ name.

“As we have previously stated, Illumina will continue to vigorously protect our patented technology and file patent suits where appropriate when our patents are infringed,” Charles Dadswell, Senior Vice President and General Counsel for Illumina, said in a release.

The lawsuit comes on the heels of Illumina filing a patent infringement suit against BGI Group’s Latvia MGI Tech SIA, in late March.

Illumina’s March lawsuit alleged that Shenzhen, China-based BGI’s sequencing products, including the BGISeq-500, MGISeq-2000, and related chemistry reagents, infringe EP 1 530 578 B1. The patent covers Illumina’s sequencing-by-synthesis chemistry.