Patenting of Plants and Exceptions to Exclusive Rights
Side Event to the WIPO Standing Committee on Patents
Monday, 6 December 2021
16:00 – 17:30 CET, Virtual
Recording here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkBwputXH9k
Event details
Biotechnology has increased the use of patent law to protect the outcomes of plant breeding.
While the WTO TRIPS Agreement allows countries to exclude the patentability of plants and essentially biological processes to obtain them, many developing countries are granting patents on plants and plant components, such as seeds, cells, and genes. These patents can limit access to plant materials for further research and breeding and prevent farmers from saving and re-using seeds that incorporate patented materials.
European legislation has sought to strike a balance between the protection of plant-related inventions and the rights of breeders and farmers through the introduction of specific exceptions to patent rights.
Join us for a discussion of a study on European legislation and case law and lessons that can be drawn for developing countries.
Download the study here.
Presentation: Prof. Carlos Correa, Executive Director of the South Centre
Discussants:
Dr. Bram de Jonge, Oxfam Novib
Prof. Titilayo Adebola, University of Aberdeen
Mr. Tanyaradzwa Manhombo, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Zimbabwe to UN Office
Ms. Suzann Ammar, Egyptian Patent Office
Moderator: Dr. Viviana Munoz Téllez, South Centre