 |
| (Source: https://thea2milkcompany.com/latest-company-news/a2tm-farm-sustainability-fund-launches-its-2025-farmer-grants-round-to-support-sustainable-dairying) |
Seoul Milk has emerged victorious in its legal battle against The a2 Milk Company by securing the invalidation of two Korean patents.
On February 2025, the Korean Patent Tribunal ruled that The a2 Milk Company's patents—titled "Beta-casein A2 and reducing or preventing symptoms of lactose intolerance" (registration numbers KR2291660 and KR2367941)—were invalid.
In July 2024, Seoul Milk initiated the invalidation proceedings by challenging specific claims within the patents. For KR2291660, Seoul Milk argued that claims 1, 5 through 12, and 14 through 16 should be nullified. Similarly, for KR2367941, the company contended that claims 1 through 6 and claim 8 were invalid. The Patent Tribunal ultimately agreed with Seoul Milk's assertions, resulting in the cancellation of the contested claims.
The patents in question cover a composition containing beta-casein A2—where at least 75% of the beta-casein is of the A2 variant—designed to prevent or reduce lactose intolerance symptoms. Lactose intolerance occurs when an animal lacks sufficient levels of lactase, the enzyme required to break down lactose, leading to digestive issues such as abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea after consuming dairy products. Notably, the patented composition provides both an immediate (acute) benefit upon ingestion and a sustained (progressive) effect when lactose is subsequently consumed.
By PatenTrip
Comments
Post a Comment