ADC技術の過去の共同研究契約の文言をめぐって、発明の所有権の争いが生じていましたが、仲裁の結果が下記のように出た事件があります。本件はSeagenが別途第一三共を特許権侵害訴訟を提起しているそうですが、契約の注意点として面白い論点があるのでメモです。
今回、契約の何の解釈がもめていたか仲裁のため、すべて憶測になりますが、Seagenの発表をみると、2008の契約の「改良技術の所有権の帰属」が問題になったそうです。
In November 2019, Seattle Genetics submitted an arbitration demand to the American Arbitration Association regarding the ownership of certain technology used by Daiichi Sankyo in the breast cancer drug ENHERTU® (DS-8201, [Fam-] trastuzumab deruxtecan), among other product candidates. The demand alleges that the linker and other antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology used in these agents are improvements to Seattle Genetics’ pioneering ADC technology, the ownership of which was assigned to Seattle Genetics under the terms of a 2008 collaboration agreement between the companies. On November 4, 2019, Daiichi Sankyo attempted to have the case heard in federal court. On April 27, 2020, it was ruled that the dispute should be resolved in arbitration and that the arbitration process should move forward.
さて、2008年の契約をみると、Drug Conjugate Techonology等に関する「改良技術」の帰属ですが、Seagenに全て帰属する契約になっています。
3.3.1 Improvements. In the event that, during the Term, Licensee conceives, develops or reduces to practice an Improvement that relates to the Drug Conjugation Technology, Licensee shall promptly notify SGI of the discovery of such Improvement. SGI shall own all such Improvements that relate to the Drug Conjugation Technology and, to the extent that such Improvements shall have been conceived, developed or reduced to practice by Licensee, Licensee hereby assigns all of its right, title and interest therein to SGI. SGI’s interest in any such Improvements that it Controls shall be included in the SGI Technology and made available to Licensee via the Exclusive License provided in Article 3. Licensee may use such Improvement assigned to SGI by Licensee for any purpose within the scope of the Exclusive License granted herein solely during the Term of this Agreement.
なお、定義条項の「改良技術」の定義は下記のようになっており、Seagenの技術を利用したり、直接改良したものが対象になるようです。
1.1.32 “Improvements” means all patentable or non-patentable inventions, discoveries or other know-how developed and Controlled by either Party after the Effective Date that utilize, incorporate, derive directly from, directly relate to, are made using or are based directly on the SGI Technology; provided that Improvements shall not include any of the foregoing developed by SGI that, within a reasonable time period after such inventions, discoveries or know-how are made or identified, [***].
あとは契約期間については下記になるようです。
13.1 Term. Unless earlier terminated pursuant to this Article 13, the term of this Agreement (the “Term”) shall commence on the Effective Date and shall remain in full force and effect until the expiration of the last to expire Royalty Term.
実際の論点は不明ですが、今回はSeagenの主張を退けるという判断になったようです。
改良技術の帰属は契約時に双方の意見が対立しやすいところで、ドラフトがなかなか難しいところです。ライセンシー側としては、ないことがベストですが、今回のように極力狭い範囲になるよう交渉したことで、今回の結果を出せたのかなと予想します。
例えば、ソニーの知財センター長をされた中村氏が書かれた下記の書籍で、 ソニーが訴えられたトリニトロン裁判以来、「技術導入契約に、改良技術の共有という概念はソニーから一切なくなった」という趣旨の記載をしています。