Illumina ordered to pay U.S. unit of BGI $333M in DNA-sequencing patent case

A jury in Delaware ordered Illumina Inc. to pay over $333 million to a U.S subsidiary of Chinese genomics firm BGI Group after finding that Illumina’s genome-sequencing systems infringed two patents.

The jury also said the US-based Illumina infringed the patents willfully and that the three patents it had accused BGI of infringing were invalid.

Illumina and BGI are both significant providers of genome analysis technology used to detect genetic diseases. The firms have been embroiled in a global legal battle over their respective sequencing technologies, with court cases in countries including Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, and Turkey.

Previously, Illumina won $8 million from BGI in a jury verdict in San Francisco and a ban on selling some BGI products in the U.S.

In the Delaware case, San Jose-based Complete Genomics Inc., a BGI subsidiary, challenged Illumina’s “two-channel” sequencing systems and kits to prepare DNA fragments for sequencing, violating its patent rights.

A spokesperson from Illumina said the company plans to appeal the ruling and that the verdict should not affect its ability to supply customers.

Complete Genomics’ said the company was pleased with the awards, which the judge could multiply based on the jury finding evidence of willful infringement.