March 2023 - Npos_2018 - lists.testbiotech.de

Fwd: [Genet-forum] Some seed companies are opposing patents but...
by Christoph Then 30 Mar '23

30 Mar '23

fyi -------- Weitergeleitete Nachricht -------- Betreff: [Genet-forum] Some seed companies are opposing patents but... Datum: Thu, 30 Mar 2023 09:11:39 +0200 Von: Eric Meunier <eric(a)infogm.org> An: newtech(a)infogm.org, new-gm-eur(a)lists.corporateeurope.org <new-gm-eur(a)lists.corporateeurope.org>, synbiocritics(a)synbiowatch.org, genet-forum(a)lists.genet-info.org Sorry for cross-postings. Eric *Some seed companies are opposing patents but...* by Eric MEUNIER Date of publication : 29 March 2023 www.infogm.org/7715 *Recently, some seed companies in France and Germany have denounced what opponents of GMOs have been saying for years: deregulating the new techniques of genetic modification would allow appropriation of life through patents. But the solution favoured by some seed companies is not to keep the GMO label as a trace of patents in a plant and even less to restrict the scope of patents. On the contrary, some of them wish to organize among themselves the conditions of access to the patent and the settlement of potential conflicts. A new way of privatizing public law.* At the beginning of February 2023, the french seeds and plants interprofession (Semae) organized a symposium on the theme of “variety creation at the service of the farm in 2030”. During two round tables, which discussed the issue of new genetic modification techniques, some seed companies, whose words can be rare, publicly questioned the supposed performances of techniques of genetic modification and the conditions of use of associated patents. Here are the main extracts. *Technically, a more complex reality than claimed* During a first round table entitled “Climate change: what tools for our farms?”, Jean-Pierre Cohan, from Arvalis - Institut du végétal, was very much in favour of deregulating products obtained through new genetic modification techniques [1]. According to him, these processes can “open up a number of ways for obtaining more resilient varieties that are more tolerant to a number of biotic (disease resistance) and abiotic stresses”. Above all, he regrets that these techniques are today considered as giving regulated GMOs with the “constraints” that this implies (risk assessment, labeling...). Marin Desprez, Head of Strategy for the Florimond Desprez seed group, was more critical. He believes that... => to read the full article www.infogm.org/7715 -- Eric Meunier Inf'OGM -www.infogm.org

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welcome to to Eva and Pat
by Christoph Then 29 Mar '23

29 Mar '23

Dear all Eva Gelinsky (IG Saatgut) and Pat Thomas (Beyond PM) are now on our list of /No Patents on Seeds!/ This was decided at our annual meeting. welcome and maybe the new colleagues want to introduce themselves to our group. looking forward for a good cooperation! Christoph

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Fwd: New publication - seed systems
by Christoph Then 28 Mar '23

28 Mar '23

Teshome was working with us some years ago.... -------- Weitergeleitete Nachricht -------- Betreff: New publication - seed systems Datum: Tue, 28 Mar 2023 08:23:25 +0000 Von: Teshome Hunduma Mulesa <teshome.mulesa(a)nmbu.no> An: Teshome Hunduma Mulesa <teshome.mulesa(a)nmbu.no> Hi, I want to share our new perspective article, which reviews the state of knowledge on seed system <https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=seedsystem&highlightedUpdat…> development in low- and middle-income countries, outlining insights emerging from seed systems and seed security <https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=seedsecurity&highlightedUpd…> literature + planting a signpost. The article appeals to academics, development practitioners, policymakers, and the general public interested in plant genetic resources and seeds. Open access on PNAS: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2218777120 With best regards/Med vennlig hilsen A picture containing person, person, wall, standing Description automatically generated* Teshome Hunduma Mulesa* Postdoctoral Research Fellow *Norwegian University of Life Sciences, NMBU* *Department of International Environment and Development Studies, Noragric* *P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway* ** *+47 672 31 370* *Office: Tivoli 121* *https://www.nmbu.no/ans/teshome.mulesa <https://www.nmbu.no/ans/teshome.mulesa>*

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EPO staff asks for Conference of Ministers!
by Johanna Eckhardt 28 Mar '23

28 Mar '23

Dear all, I just found a current open letter from a European union (USF) supporting the demands of the EPO staff to the chairman of the Administrative Council (Josef Kratochvil) asking for an overdue Conference of Ministers! They reiterated their demands from Oct. 2022! The EPO Union-website: https://www.suepo.org/ The letter (pdf): https://suepo.org/archive/ex23016cp.pdf Union Syndicale Fédérale (USF) is the largest federation of workers employed by European or international public services. USF is [] aiming at the highest quality standards of public services. These standards are meant both related to internal social issues and provide the best service to the (European) public at large. They mention as well the critique by industry on poor patent quality I just sent and very briefly the Unitary Patent and the EPOs 50th anniversary. Best, Johanna Mag. Johanna ECKHARDT Project Coordination Tel. +43 680 21 26 343 <mailto:johanna.eckhardt@no-patents-on-seeds.org> johanna.eckhardt(a)no-patents-on-seeds.org NO PATENTS ON SEEDS! <http://www.no-patents-on-seeds.org/> www.no-patents-on-seeds.org <http://www.facebook.com/nopatentsonseeds> www.facebook.com/nopatentsonseeds <http://www.twitter.com/nopatentsonseed> www.twitter.com/nopatentsonseed

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Industry criticises poor quality of EPO patent examination
by Johanna Eckhardt 28 Mar '23

28 Mar '23

Dear all, the industry currently criticises the poor quality of patent examination. They formed an initiative that wants to discuss their demands with the EPO. It is not a new EPO problem, but interesting that they are currently discussing it publicly. Gabi made me aware of a German article: https://www.rnd.de/wirtschaft/zoff-um-das-europaeische-patentamt-wird-die-pr uefung-zunehmend-nachlaessig-67MMZ4KHQJFBTEPYN6IZCU3JYE.html Here some info in English: https://www.juve-patent.com/legal-commentary/epo-and-ipqc-reach-impasse-in-p atent-quality-discussion/ Some interesting ideas in the article, such as "The IPQC [industry] founders are particularly concerned about the patent office's continuing efforts to increase the efficiency of its examination processes. As they see it, this is resulting in the EPO becoming an increasingly profit-driven organisation." "Furthermore, the fact that some of the EPO's 39 contracting states rely on the income generated by patent applications is somewhat reinforcing this idea." Best, Johanna Mag. Johanna ECKHARDT Project Coordination Tel. +43 680 21 26 343 <mailto:johanna.eckhardt@no-patents-on-seeds.org> johanna.eckhardt(a)no-patents-on-seeds.org NO PATENTS ON SEEDS! <http://www.no-patents-on-seeds.org/> www.no-patents-on-seeds.org <http://www.facebook.com/nopatentsonseeds> www.facebook.com/nopatentsonseeds <http://www.twitter.com/nopatentsonseed> www.twitter.com/nopatentsonseed

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industry perspective on random mutagenesis patents
by Francois Meienberg 22 Mar '23

22 Mar '23

Dear All I am sitting in an UPOV-Seminar and just listened to a presentation<https://www.upov.int/edocs/mdocs/upov/en/upov_sem_ge_23/upov_sem_ge_23_ppt_…> by Bo Gertsson<https://www.upov.int/edocs/mdocs/upov/en/upov_sem_ge_23/upov_sem_ge_23_bio_…> - Group manager at the Plant breeding department in Lantmännen Lantbruk - probably one of the bigger breeding companies in Scandinavia. (the presentation is public and could be used) He concludes: * The limited breeding exemption in the EU's unitary patent should be incorporated in the national legislation in all EU countries * Mutations created through random (contrary to targeted) mutagenesis should not be patentable * The concept of "essentially biological processes" is very important * Screening segregating offspring and developing markers is standard knowledge and should not be patentable * It is difficult for Small and Medium Enterprises to compete with Big Business when they have to navigate in a patent environment Questioned about his position on random mutagenesis, he answered that it is most of all because the industry needs trust from the farmers and consumers - and that they are (rightly) very critical about power in agriculture ... Best François

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Cercospera Patente von KWS - neu?
by Francois Meienberg 22 Mar '23

22 Mar '23

Dear All I just received a hint which is maybe interesting to follow-up. It seems that the the registration for the Varieties falling under the Cercospera Patents from KWS (as now disclosed in Pinto) have been filed before the patents have been filed. The result would be that all the patents lack novelty. I wonder if KWS is really so stupid - but it would certainly be good to check. Best François

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Meeting of members - first infos
by Johanna Eckhardt 22 Mar '23

22 Mar '23

Dear all, I just sent you the email below via Proton. Best, Johanna --- Dear all, since it will still take some time until we have a final version of the internal minutes of our meeting of members, attached a first draft if helpful for you. Feel free to comment. Attached as well the updated NPOS Calendar. And a short preview in regards to the patent research: As suggested by Francois, I checked if the varieties that are recommended to be used in Switzerland in 2023 can be found in the Pinto database (Euroseeds) and are covered by patents: * I found 8 maize varieties in Pinto, covered by 4 patents. * 1 winter-rye variety in Pinto * none of the recomended soy and winter rape varietys in Pinto * In general, the following species are not in Pinto: potatoes, wheat, spelt, oat, triticale. Best, Johanna Mag. Johanna ECKHARDT Project Coordination Tel. +43 680 21 26 343 <mailto:johanna.eckhardt@no-patents-on-seeds.org> johanna.eckhardt(a)no-patents-on-seeds.org NO PATENTS ON SEEDS! <http://www.no-patents-on-seeds.org/> www.no-patents-on-seeds.org <http://www.facebook.com/nopatentsonseeds> www.facebook.com/nopatentsonseeds <http://www.twitter.com/nopatentsonseed> www.twitter.com/nopatentsonseed

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(old) Politico info about upcoming patent package on EU level
by ARCHE NOAH Dagmar Urban 20 Mar '23

20 Mar '23

Hi all, I hope you are well and I am sorry I couldn't meet most of you in Munich last week! I got this Politico article from a few weeks ago (it's usually behind a paywall, so please don't forward) via the Greens in the European parliament. It seems mostly to be about software and pharmaceuticals, but it's not clear if the licensing part for example will go beyond that. If anyone knows more about this, please share :) I will follow-up with the Greens on this and Katherine is trying to get a meeting with the European Commission about patents in general. Best, Dagmar · EU patent package coming, according to Politico PATENT PACKAGE: Brussels' industry groups are preparing themselves for a suite of proposals slated for April 26 that will regulate how businesses that rely on patents for profits let other companies use their technologies. Holders vs implementers: The European Commission will table legislative and non-legislative policies in three areas: compulsory licensing of patents, a review of existing supplementary protection certificate rules and standard essential patents, or SEPs. The latter are a highly sensitive topic that pits everyone from Big Tech giants to open software campaigners against patent holders, which includes a relatively small group of companies including Nokia, Qualcomm and Ericsson. Small business associations are also getting in on the act. The European Digital SME Alliance launched an ongoing survey<https://www.digitalsme.eu/call-for-action-making-seps-work-for-all-business…> at the end of last year to find out if its members were being targeted by SEP holders. Patent trolls that use patents as a legal weapon to claim rights to proceeds from a company's own products or stop them being developed altogether are one of the biggest bones of contention for the implementers, said Ciarán O'Riordan, senior policy adviser at non-profit Open Forum Europe. "The Commission hasn't really published much about how they plan to solve this issue," he said. "They've talked about how they want to increase transparency," but "how do you remove the lack of clarity or how do you increase transparency in a way that's actually useful in a way that solves the problem?" "One thing that we would love to see happen would be something to clarify the software is not patentable in the first place," he said. Also, next week: Industry ministers will meet at the Competitiveness Council on March 2 where they will get an update on the state of play for the new unitary patent system that will come into effect<https://pro.politico.eu/press/149878> on June 1 as well as the EU's new Unified Patent Court. · Bayer providing free access Bayer offers small vegetable breeding companies in the European Union access free of cost to our European patents on traits in vegetables which are in the Euroseeds PINTO database and licensable by Bayer.https://www.bayer.com/en/agriculture/free-access-to-patented-innovati…

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IMPORTANT Conference call April
by Johanna Eckhardt 19 Mar '23

19 Mar '23

Dear all, our next conference call will be on Thursday, 13 April: * German call (with members from Germany) from 11h to 12.30h CET Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82665796509?pwd=L0pIOVRvd0Vnd1FLM0hWeXJLZ0RSdz09 Meeting ID: 826 6579 6509 Passcode: 354881 * English call (with the majority of the members) from 13.00h to 14.30h CET Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89580368538?pwd=ak9FYTRYaEo5c2o3eXZzUkNuTHdkQT09 Meeting ID: 895 8036 8538 Passcode: 173238 We'll send a draft agenda a few days before the meeting. Kind regards, Johanna Mag. Johanna ECKHARDT Project Coordination Tel. +43 680 21 26 343 <mailto:johanna.eckhardt@no-patents-on-seeds.org> johanna.eckhardt(a)no-patents-on-seeds.org NO PATENTS ON SEEDS! <http://www.no-patents-on-seeds.org/> www.no-patents-on-seeds.org <http://www.facebook.com/nopatentsonseeds> www.facebook.com/nopatentsonseeds <http://www.twitter.com/nopatentsonseed> www.twitter.com/nopatentsonseed

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