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-einheitliches-patentgericht-ein-ueberblick-ueber-das-neue-patentsystem-in-europa.html

Best,

Katherine

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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 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, 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.

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@arche-noah.at
www.arche-noah.at