Evergreening is a method by which technology producers keep their products updated, with the intent of maintaining patent protection for longer periods of time than would normally be permissible under the law.[1] The process has caused some controversy in the pharmaceutical industry. In this context, evergreening may be used by manufacturers of a particular drug to restrict or prevent competition from manufacturers of generic equivalents to that drug. [2]

The process of evergreening involves specific aspects of patent law. A company manufactures a product for which it secures a patent. Shortly before the expiration of that patent, the company will file a new patent application which revises or extends the original. When the original patent expires, a new patent is in effect, which prevents the manufacture of generic versions of the product. [3]

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  1. ^ The awful truth about evergreening, su theage.com.au, The Age, 20 dicembre 2005. URL consultato il 21 settembre 2007.
  2. ^ Evergreening of Pharmaceutical Market Protection, su egagenerics.com, European Generic Medicines Association. URL consultato il 19 ottobre 2007.
  3. ^ 'Linkage' pharmaceutical evergreening in Canada and Australia, su anzhealthpolicy.com, Australia and New Zealand Health Policy 2007, 01-06-2007. URL consultato il 19 ottobre 2007.


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