Dear all

please see attached a new draft backgrounder, based on the research from last year (thanks to Anne-Charlotte!). It gives an overview on patent applications that mix New GE with random mutagenesis. The legal practice of the EPO is explained as well as possible solutions.

additional information: I also identified many  patent applications that still are based on identifying gene variants and production of plants by crossing and selection. These patent applications, if filed after July 2017, should now be rejected. our success. However insufficient.

we currently have an activity going on our website to send letters to the EU Commission. we also received first answers from the Commission (random mutagenesis is regarded as patentable) but our letter requesting a meeting was not answered.

we discussed to travel to Brussels to create a photo with some vegetables and to hand over of of our backgrounder directly. If we do this end of June we could reach out to the Commission, the newly elected Parliament members and the Admin Council on 27 / 28 of June. We have to prevent the Commission to run their business while ignoring our input.

I  recommend to do so and would be willing to travel.

please give your comments and please let me know, who may ready to travel with me. Three persons standing in front of the Commission can be a nice picture, one person is not sufficient.

cheers

Christoph