Dear all,
I would like to come back to the idea about 50 patents and explain my reservations and also explain why I prefer a 'visual' representing protest.
part one: my reservations against the idea a list of 50 worst patents
the event of 50 years EPO may only have a smaller slot in the media - it will be difficult reported complex side aspects. we may need some 'simple and stupid' content to use this opportunity.
the 50 patents would need research and discussions: do we only want to have only patents on seeds or all live patents? if we introduce example like patents on bacteria, the oncomouse, stem cells (which were really groundbreaking) how could it us help with our campaign? If we stay with patents on seeds - what is worse a patent on broccoli or on tomatoes? how should we select? what would be needed to explain why the one is worse than the other?
whom would we expect to interested in this report? what is our target group? the big media? Do we expect them to have time, interest and they will see the need to report? what is the news?
Do we think we can create a strong visual around 50 patents? or is it just an online background information (and handover)?
part two: my thoughts on the visual /protest picture
we produced a lot of content in the last years - we could try to give them a hook with a nice visual on the right day at the right place.
to meet the supposed expectations on media on that day the visual could be used as highlighting additional aspects to the main messages that will be presented by the EPO. It is their story that will dominate in the media on that day.
the screaming vegetable were already used several times, they were never meant to be used just only one time. the sculptures can be used to brand our activities (trigger a memory effect) like yellow banners are standing for Greenpeace. They can and should be combined with other elements. We do not need to mobilise a large bunch of people. As long as we do not have a better alternative, I guess the vegetables will remain part of our public activities. At least if an event is reported by media anyway, they can make it to the public as they did at KWS. I hope in next years, we have more pictures from a lot of cities throughout Europe.
the picture of protest I would like to create (and test before): We use the stability of the vegetables and put them up in front of the EPO. We place a person behind each them with two large wooden spoons. In front of them, like a drum, we place cooking pot. the spoons hit the pot, making a typical noise of protest. The vegetables themselves are delivering the protest.
The banner could say something like:
"50 anniversary of the EPO: A long history of scandalous patents on seeds. No reason to celebrate!"
we may need around 20 people to organise.
If we need news: there are interesting new patents granted by the EPO in its 50th year. For me it looks like less work and more effort that a list of 50 old patents. the new patents could simply be included into the media release.
So what we would need: please show your interest in an activity on that day, please make first comments (better ideas) and in case needed, let us organize a zoom meeting soon just on the topic. We can also drop it.
Cheers
Christoph