Language of document :

Reference for a preliminary ruling from High Court of Justice (Chancery Division) (United Kingdom) made on 28 June 2013 – International Stem Cell Corporation v Comptroller General of Patents

(Case C-364/13)

Language of the case: English

Referring court

High Court of Justice (Chancery Division)(United Kingdom)

Parties to the main proceedings

Applicant: International Stem Cell Corporation

Defendant: Comptroller General of Patents

Question referred

Are unfertilised human ova whose division and further development have been stimulated by parthenogenesis, and which, in contrast to fertilised ova, contain only pluripotent cells and are incapable of developing into human beings included in the term "human embryos" in Article 6(2)(c) of Directive 98/44/EC1 on the Legal Protection of Biotechnological Inventions?

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1 Directive 98/44/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 1998 on the legal protection of biotechnological inventions

 OJ L 213, p. 13