According to PR of 5-25-10, ICBS, Ltd. (ICBT) (www.icbs.ca) has entered talks to acquire 100% ownership of BioSpec Global Solutions, Inc. Presently, ICBS owns a 25% interest. BioSpec is in the process of bringing their new TOG’s 3000 to the international market.
I emailed BioSpec’s President, Don Saunders, inquiring about the patent rights involved with the TOG’s 3000 and 9000. He provided the following applications numbers, which I verified on various national patent office websites.
At a quick glance, it appears all the below-identified applications relate to one invention entitled, “System for Rapid Analysis of Microbiological Materials in Liquid Samples,” which, among other things, identifies hazardous material in water very rapidly thereby enabling a much faster response time in correcting problems so to limit risk to the public.
On January 27, 2010, the below-identified US patent application was assigned to Wild River Capital, Inc., of 1376 Perrot Blvd., Ile Perrot, Quebec, CANADA J7V 7P2, http://wildrivercapital.com. Wild River specializes in mergers and acquisitions advisory services and invests in selective businesses with potential for high growth. I did not see the assignment document to discern the nature of the assignment, however, tend to believe it’s in the nature of a joint venture or security pledge.
The US Patent Application has been in prosecution since about July 2007 with what I believe is probably an experienced examiner judging by her writing style. In June 2010, ICBT changed from a Canadian firm to a US patent law firm I am somewhat familiar. If anything is patentable in the application, this US firm should now be able to identify that and get the case granted. Moreover, I heard through the grape vine that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is now easing up on granting patents.
It appears BioSpec (and now ICBS) intends to take this invention to most areas in the world where clean drinking water is at issue. Below are a list of countries where the application has been filed.
US Appl. No. 11/122,089 (claiming priority to Provisional Appl. 60/569,531, filed 5-11-04) System for Rapid Analysis of Microbiological Materials in Liquid Samples
PCT/CA05/000686, Publ. WO 2006/116835 System for Rapid Analysis of Microbiological Materials in Liquid Samples
Off PCT application:
1. European Patent Office (Appl. 2005-741372); can validate in European countries 2. Israel (Appl. 187064) 2. Mexico (Appl. 20070013637) 3. China (Appl. 200580051005) 4. Canada (Appl. CA2005/000686) 5. Australia (Appl. AU2005331515) 6. Eurasian Patent Office (Publ. 200702418); can validate in Turkmenistan, Republic of Belarus, Republic of Tajikistan, Russian Federation, Republic of Kazakhstan, Republic of Azerbaijan, Kyrgyz Republic, Republic of Moldova, and Republic of Armenia.
The term of any granted patent in the US would be from about 2004 to 2024, leaving only 14 more years to capitalize on any patent rights in the US. Terms of other nations vary. Expiration of patent rights does not exclude the original assignee from making or selling the product. It just permits others to try to enter the market with the same technology.
Register for free to join our community of investors and share your ideas. You will also get access to streaming quotes, interactive charts, trades, portfolio, live options flow and more tools.