Hi all,

I came across this article by a patent law firm on twitter – it is interesting to see how they report on the EBA decision: https://www.juve-patent.com/news-and-stories/cases/enlarged-board-of-appeal-issues-g-3-19-decision-on-plant-patents/

In particular, I wonder I they are suggesting here that the decision by the EBA not to apply Rule 28(2) to applications made before 1 July 2017 may not be upheld by national courts:

“On the other hand, the EPO is bringing its own case law into line with the standards of European courts. There could be conflicts between the EPO and various regional courts, for example if the 1 July date does not align with the patent courts. Many courts in Europe already refuse to rule on plant patents.”

In our call next week, should we consider the pros and cons of opposing such a patent before a national court, as a way of challenging the EBA’s temporal application of its decision?

On that note, I also wanted to ask if we were in contact with the lawyer, Anton Horn, behind the successful appeal in Germany against the Teff patent: https://www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de/teff-kommt-die-aethiopische-superhirse-bald-nach-deutschland.976.de.html?dram:article_id=478706 x

Best

Katherine  

Katherine Dolan

ARCHE NOAH Leitung Politik / Head of Policy

+43 (0)676 557 4408

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ARCHE NOAH – Gesellschaft für die Erhaltung der Kulturpflanzenvielfalt und ihre Entwicklung / Association for the conservation and development of crop diversity
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www.arche-noah.at

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