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URL: Location: HomeÜber unsEPA-Veranstaltungen Archiv2007Patentierbarkeit biotechnologischer Erfindungen

Konferenz zur Patentierbarkeit biotechnologischer Erfindungen

Brüssel, 8 November 2007

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Achievements, issues and questions

A conference organised by the European Patent Office 

8 November 2007, the Stanhope Hotel, Brussels

Nearly ten years have passed since the adoption of the European directive on the legal protection of biotechnological inventions. What is the situation today with regard to the patentability of inventions relating to stem cells, genes or plants? What developments have occurred in legislation and patent office practice in Europe, and how have the changes affected the patenting strategies of applicants? What questions remain to be clarified, and how does the EPO address the practical issues in this area?

To provide up-to-date information and facilitate an open exchange of ideas, the EPO is organising a free conference on this topic. The speakers will include political decision-makers, representatives of society and patent experts.

See photos from the event

Content

In 1998 the European legislator adopted the Directive 98/44 EC for the legal protection of biotechnological inventions with a view to harmonising the patenting practice in this field. The Directive also forms a part of the EPO's legal body, the EPC, and is the basis for the Office's examination practice.

As technology advances and new challenges in science, ethics and politics arise, biotechnology patents continue to be in the focus of public attention. This conference seeks to assess the situation as it presents itself today from a political and technical perspective: What has been achieved since the directive entered into force? Which ones are the gains and unresolved issues? How does the picture present itself in areas of particular interest, such as DNA sequences, green biotechnology and human embryonic stem cells?

These questions will be addressed in four dedicated panels with expert speakers from the fields of politics, business, civil society and intellectual property. Regular updates on topics and speakers are published on the EPO's website at

Who should attend?

The conference addresses policy makers having an interest in intellectual property matters in European and national institutions, enterprises, special interest and civil society groups, and journalists.

The conference language is English.

Conference information and registration

Participation at the conference is free of charge. Please register at press@epo.org citing "Biotechnology Conference" in the subject line.

For all queries concerning further information please contact the press desk of the EPO:

Rainer Osterwalder
+4989-23991820 or +49163-8399527 (m)
rosterwalder@epo.org

Danielle Wagner
+4989-23991821
dwagner@epo.org

Conference moderator

Paul Meller
European Affairs Correspondent
Science Business magazine

Conference manager

Rainer Osterwalder
Director for Media Relations
European Patent Office

Programme

Time Programme
09.00 - 10.00
Welcome coffee and registration
10.00 - 12.00

Panel 1: Progress or stagnancy
This panel reviews the legislation process in Europe, the political controversy around it, results achieved and their use for European biotechnology businesses. How does it work out in practice? What needs to be improved or changed? How do civil society groups see the situation? The panel also looks at questions of ethics and morality in relation with biotechnological inventions.

Sharon Bowles
Member
European Parliament

Ingwer Koch (PDF, 231 KB)
Director for Patent Law
European Patent Office

Prof. Julian Kinderlerer
Member
European Group on Ethics (EGE)

Johan Vanhemelrijk
Secretary General
EuropaBio

Christoph Then (PDF, 2.7 MB)
Greenpeace

12.00 - 12.30
Discussions with the floor
12.30 - 14.00
Lunch
14.00 - 15.00

Panel 2: DNA patents
This panel looks at the specific challenges of patenting DNA sequences and the differing approaches in Europe to the protection conferred by these patents (absolute vs. purpose-bound patent protection).

Jacques Warcoin (PDF, 171 KB)
European Patent Attorney
Cabinet Regimbeau, Paris

Michael Hopkins (PDF, 159 KB)
University of Sussex
Science and Technology Policy Research

Sven Bostyn (PDF, 205 KB)
Associate Professor of IP Law
University of Amsterdam

15.00 - 16.00

Panel 3: Plants and animals - new challenges
Patents concerning higher life forms such as plants and animals continue to be at the heart of the public debate. New issues requiring legal clarification have recently arisen, particularly in green biotechnology, and these are the subject of public debate.

Ralf Badur (PDF, 296 KB)
IP - Seed and Biotechnology
Syngenta International AG, Basel

Pierre Roger (PDF, 32 KB)
Limagrain Services Holding
Direction Scientifique Groupe

Aliki Nichogiannopoulou (PDF, 815 KB)
Principal Examiner, Biotechnology
European Patent Office

16.00 - 16.15
Coffee break
16.15 - 17.15

Panel 4: Stem cell patents - a road ahead?
The question of patenting human embryonic stem cells is still unresolved. What is the practice in Europe today? On which points do the views and opinions differ? How can this be addressed?

Pierre Treichel (PDF, 137)
Lawyer, Patent Law Directorate
European Patent Office 

Nick Bassil (PDF, 51 KB)
Patent Attorney
Kilburn&Strode

Julian Kinderlerer
Member
European Group on Ethics

17.15 - 17.30
Summary and closure

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© European Patent Office.Impressum.Nutzungsbedingungen..Letzte Aktualisierung: 9.1.2008