May 2023 - Npos_2018 - lists.testbiotech.de

Conference call 23 May 2023 - Minutes
by Johanna Eckhardt 30 May '23

30 May '23

Dear all, I just sent you the minutes of the conference call from 23 May 2023 via Proton. https://mail.proton.me/ 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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FYI: Draft press release on the Unitary Patent (in German)
by ARCHE NOAH Dagmar Urban 30 May '23

30 May '23

Hi all, Since the change of the Austrian patent law was done together with the introduction of the Unitary Patent we have been getting questions from journalists on both, and will do a small press release on the Unitary Patent in Austria for interested journalists only. If it's interesting for your work, you can find a draft version attached - in German only, sorry! Best, Dagmar Dagmar Urban Team Saatgutpolitik/ Seed Policy Team ARCHE NOAH Gesellschaft für die Erhaltung der Kulturpflanzenvielfalt und ihre Entwicklung Obere Straße 40, A-3553 Schiltern +43 (0)676 /931 81 80 dagmar.urban(a)arche-noah.at www.arche-noah.at<http://www.arche-noah.at/> ZVR 907994719 Die Vielfalt braucht einen sicheren Platz - jetzt spenden!<https://mitmachen.arche-noah.at/de/ihre-spende-zur-rettung-gef%C3%A4hrdeter…> PS: Kennen Sie schon den ARCHE NOAH Newsletter? Jetzt eine:r von 200.000 Newsletter-Abonnent:innen werden! Gleich hier<https://www.arche-noah.at/newsletter/newsletter-anmelden> anmelden und regelmäßig über Veranstaltungen, Projekte und Aktionen informiert werden

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Conference call June - poll
by Johanna Eckhardt 25 May '23

25 May '23

Dear all, please fill in the poll for our next conference call (12-14 June) until 1 June 11h CET. https://dud-poll.inf.tu-dresden.de/qYuza_umnQ/ Thank you. 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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Report - Improved version
by Johanna Eckhardt 25 May '23

25 May '23

Dear all, Christoph improved the summary of the English report. Please find the updated version attached. It is as well updated on our homepage: https://www.no-patents-on-seeds.org/en/report2023 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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Hand-over petition in Austria
by Johanna Eckhardt 25 May '23

25 May '23

Dear all, ARCHE NOAH handed over the patent petition to the Austrian minister yesterday. Press release (in German) here and below: <https://www.ots.at/presseaussendung/OTS_20230525_OTS0062/arche-noah-uebergi bt-45000-unterschriften-gegen-patente-auf-saatgut-bild> https://www.ots.at/presseaussendung/OTS_20230525_OTS0062/arche-noah-uebergib t-45000-unterschriften-gegen-patente-auf-saatgut-bild You can find a first nice photo on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GruntAxel/status/1661664992322519040?s=20 Kind regards, Johanna Mag. Johanna ECKHARDT Project Coordination Tel. +43 680 21 26 343 johanna.eckhardt(a)no-patents-on-seeds.org <mailto:johanna.eckhardt@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 25. Mai 2023 Presseinformation Umwelt/Agrar/Patente/Innovation/Biodiversität ARCHE NOAH übergibt 45.000 Unterschriften gegen Patente auf Saatgut Bundesministerin Gewessler muss sich weiterhin für eine europäische Lösung einsetzen Heute hat ARCHE NOAH die Petition Kein Patent auf Saatgut mit 45.000 Unterschriften der zuständigen Bundesministerin Leonore Gewessler übergeben. Saatgut ist keine Erfindung! Patente auf Saatgut sind ein Missbrauch des Patentrechts. Sie gefährden die Kulturpflanzenvielfalt und die Entwicklung zukunftstauglicher Sorten, erklärt ARCHE NOAH Geschäftsführer Volker Plass bei der Übergabe. Kulturpflanzen und ihre genetische Vielfalt stellen einen unschätzbaren Wert dar, bei der Übergabe symbolisiert durch eine mit Raritäten bepflanzte Schatztruhe. Wir freuen uns über die starke Unterstützung der Bevölkerung für die Petition gegen Patente auf Saatgut, denn die ständige Privatisierung der Natur betrifft uns alle, so Volker Plass. Die wichtigste Forderung der Petition wurde bereits mit der am 20. Mai 2023 in Kraft getretene Patentrechtsnovelle umgesetzt: Diese präzisiert eine auch im EU-Recht enthaltene Bestimmung, nach der Pflanzen, die aus im Wesentlichen biologischen Verfahren hervorgehen, von der Patentierbarkeit ausgeschlossen sind. Mit dieser Präzisierung sind nun sämtliche Methoden der klassischen Pflanzenzucht von der Patentierbarkeit ausgeschlossen. Eine Umgehung des Verbots von Patenten auf klassisch gezüchtete Pflanzen ist nicht mehr möglich. Österreichs Patentgesetz ist jetzt ein Vorbild für ganz Europa, so Plass. Das endgültige Aus für Patente auf herkömmlich gezüchtete Pflanzen muss europaweit weiterverfolgt werden. Die Zeit drängt: Wenn die negativen Folgen von Patenten auf Saatgut breit durchschlagen, kann es zu spät sein. Der Zugang zu vielen relevanten Eigenschaften wichtiger Pflanzenarten ist bereits blockiert, die Überlebenschancen kleiner und mittlerer Züchtungsunternehmen schwinden. Patente auf Saatgut machen uns von globalen Konzernen abhängig, die großes Interesse haben, auch Pestizide und Herbizide zu verkaufen sowie Saatgut, das einen hohen Chemie-Einsatz erfordert. Die Konzerne möchten bestimmen, was wir anbauen und essen zu welchen Bedingungen und zu welchem Preis, warnt Volker Plass von ARCHE NOAH. Die österreichische Patentrechtsnovelle hat viele anderen Staaten wachgerüttelt. Wichtig ist, dass sich Ministerin Gewessler weiterhin auf europäischer Ebene in bilateralen Gesprächen sowie bei Treffen der europäischen Patent-Minister:innen für eine endgültige Lösung einsetzt. Fotos von der Petitionsübergabe: https://app.pocketportfolio.co/share?token=d8e42bd7-bc96-482f-95c1-33942ca4e f1d , (c) Knights of RGB / Teresa Novotny Rückfragen: ARCHE NOAH, Gesellschaft zur Erhaltung und Verbreitung der Kulturpflanzenvielfalt Axel Grunt Leitung Kommunikation +43 680 2379245 axel.grunt(a)arche-noah.at <mailto:axel.grunt@arche-noah.at> Bildservice: Download unter www.arche-noah.at/presse-und-medien/pressefotos <http://www.arche-noah.at/presse-und-medien/pressefotos> Anfragen an johanna.gillinger(a)arche-noah.at <mailto:johanna.gillinger@arche-noah.at>

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Webinar on UPC
by ARCHE NOAH Katherine Dolan 24 May '23

24 May '23

Dear all, Johanna already shared with the list the invite to a (public) webinar we are hosting with Fulya Batur on 30 May on the new Unitary Patent System, which will enter into force on 1 June (see below). I received an invitation to a separate webinar in German, which may be of interest to some (although it does not have a specific focus on seeds): https://www.biolago.org/de/veranstaltung/biolago-academy-einheitspatent-und… Best, Katherine -- Invitation to a Webinar, 30 May 15 - 17:00 (CET) Unitary Seed Patents - Implications for Plant Breeders, Farmers, and Cultivated Plant Diversity The Unitary Patent Convention<https://www.epo.org/applying/european/unitary/unitary-patent.html> will enter into force on 1 June 2023. The new "Unitary Patents", will still be granted by the European Patent Office but provide automatic patent protection in 17 EU Member States, including Germany, Austria, and Italy. Infringement proceedings will be heard by a new Unified Patent Court in English, German, or French. In contrast to the existing European Patents, the rights of a patent holder and conversely the freedom to operate of plant breeders and farmers will no longer only be determined at the national level, but by the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court<https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A42013A0620%2801…>, combined with national laws. In this webinar, Fulya Batur (IP and seed law expert, Kybele) will present an overview of the changes that the new Unitary Patent system will bring in relation to patents on cultivated plants and their seeds: * What is the difference between a Unitary Patent and a classical European Patent and a National Patent? * What are the implications of the new Unitary Patent system for plant breeders and farmers who want to work with patent-free seeds? * What happens if a plant breeder or farmer infringes on a Unitary Patent? * What are the wider implications in relation to the transparency and democratic accountability of the patent system overall? The webinar is hosted by ARCHE NOAH, a member of the European coalition "No Patents on Seeds!", with thanks to the kind support of the Gen-ethische Stiftung. The webinar will take place via Zoom and will be held in English (only). The deadline for registration is 29 May. You can register here<https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vvQUytzTQVuQE1Mofrpsxw#/registr…>. Katherine Dolan Leitung Team Saatgutpolitik / Head of Seed Policy ARCHE NOAH Gesellschaft für die Erhaltung der Kulturpflanzenvielfalt und ihre Entwicklung / Association for the Conservation and Development of Cultivated Plant Diversity Obere Straße 40, 3553 Schiltern, Austria +43 (0)676 557 4408 katherine.dolan(a)arche-noah.at<mailto:katherine.dolan@arche-noah.at> www.arche-noah.at<http://www.arche-noah.at>

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update Berlin and Brussels
by Christoph Then 23 May '23

23 May '23

Dear all we are not going to Berlin this week, we are now looking for another approach to reach German government (via Parliament) on 6 of July, it looks like we will present our report as planned in the EP, however it may become a mixed workshop with NGT content. This could mean: (1) No Patents on Seeds: the report (Arche Noah) (2) Testbiotech: Patents on CRISPR (NN) (3) CEO or other: Reaction to the NGT Com-Proposal (4) Panel with discussion, all issues the workshop in Brussels will be organised by the Green Group by inviting also members from other parties cheers Christoph

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EPO strategy 2024-2028: sustainability
by Johanna Eckhardt 22 May '23

22 May '23

Dear all, the EPO starts working on their strategy 2024-2028. Their goal: sustainability. 😉 We missed the deadline to comment on it, but probably wouldn’t have had a lot of effect anyways. But this might be interesting in regards to our activities around the 50th anniversary of the EPO. https://www.epo.org/news-events/news/2023/20230418.html?mtm_campaign=SP2028 <https://www.epo.org/news-events/news/2023/20230418.html?mtm_campaign=SP2028…> &mtm_keyword=epo-newsletter-09&mtm_medium=newsletter&mtm_content=general&mtm_group=email “This year the EPO is celebrating 50 years of the European Patent Convention. […] In SP2028 the EPO will pursue one goal: sustainability. Its people, professional homes, technologies, products and services, and the partnerships and networks it develops are the drivers that will contribute to a sustainable patent office, a more sustainable patent system and, ultimately, a more sustainable society.” 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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The Hague, photos
by Johanna Eckhardt 17 May '23

17 May '23

Dear all, I now put some photos on our homepage: https://www.no-patents-on-seeds.org/en/activity/the-hague I posted as well on Facebook/Twitter. Please share. This is a wetransfer-Link to 12 high resolution photos: <https://we.tl/t-gX7Rnga8qs?utm_campaign=TRN_TDL_05&utm_source=sendgrid&utm_ medium=email&trk=TRN_TDL_05> https://we.tl/t-gX7Rnga8qs (valid until 24 May). Feel free to share this link. Photos: Tommy Schweiger/NPOS 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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update on activities / Berlin / Brussels?
by Christoph Then 17 May '23

17 May '23

Dear all we had a nice day in Den Haag with hand over and workshop an even media reports. It was great work of Oxfam, Grietje and also very good support from Bionext /Maaike. Plantum and poltical decision makers (such as from Ag Minister) joined the workshop, it seems like we moved things ahead. Now we have to look forward. Berlin would be next week, we have some support for our hand over on 25 May, but not a final confirmation. It might take us till Monday to find out. Please, AbL, GeN, FOE and all others which might be ready to support, stay alert. In case we will need around 10 persons. For Brussels, there is some confusion. It looks like, the 6 of July is after the day the EU Commission wants to publish its proposal on NGT. If this is the case (still not sure, now it seems the 5 of July is planned) we should not try to talk about patent on conventional breeding. For our trip we should find a date before the NGT proposal comes up. This is something I still have to sort out. Cheers Christoph

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