Editing Polymerase chain reaction (section)

===Patent disputes===
The PCR technique was patented by [[Kary Mullis]] and assigned to [[Cetus Corporation]], where Mullis worked when he invented the technique in 1983. The ''Taq'' polymerase enzyme was also covered by patents. There have been several high-profile lawsuits related to the technique, including an unsuccessful lawsuit<ref>{{cite web | url=https://dukespace.lib.duke.edu/dspace/handle/10161/8127/recent-submissions?offset=0 | title=Recently added }}</ref> brought by [[DuPont]]. The Swiss pharmaceutical company [[Hoffmann-La Roche]] purchased the rights to the patents in 1992. The last of the commercial PCR patents expired in 2017.<ref>{{cite journal|title=The effects of business practices, licensing, and intellectual property on development and dissemination of the polymerase chain reaction: case study|date=3 July 2006|pmc=1523369|last1=Fore|first1=J. Jr.|last2=Wiechers|first2=I. R.|last3=Cook-Deegan|first3=R.|journal=Journal of Biomedical Discovery and Collaboration|volume=1|page=7|doi=10.1186/1747-5333-1-7|pmid=16817955 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

A related patent battle over the ''Taq'' polymerase enzyme is still ongoing{{as of?|date=April 2022}} in several jurisdictions around the world between Roche and [[Promega]]. The legal arguments have extended beyond the lives of the original PCR and ''Taq'' polymerase patents, which expired on 28 March 2005.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.genengnews.com/magazine/49/advice-on-how-to-survive-the-taq-wars/|title=Advice on How to Survive the Taq Wars|journal=GEN Genetic Engineering News – Biobusiness Channel|date=1 May 2006|volume=26|issue=9|access-date=24 April 2019|archive-date=26 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326160735/https://www.genengnews.com/magazine/49/advice-on-how-to-survive-the-taq-wars/|url-status=dead}}</ref>