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Posted 5:20 PM by Tevita

EXTENSIVE PATENT ON PIGS ISSUED - GREENPEACE WILL LAY OBJECTION

From : Genet News

EXTENSIVE PATENT ON PIGS ISSUED - GREENPEACE WILL LAY OBJECTION

Greenpeace will lay objection

Munich/Hamburg, 16 July. - The European Patent Office in Munich is today
granting an extensive patent (EP 1651777) on a method of breeding pigs
despite international criticism and lack of clarity on the patent's
legality. According to Greenpeace's analyses the genetic conditions
described in it occur in all European pig breeds. The claims have been
formulated in such a way that not only do they include the breeding method;
the patent owner can in a dispute also make claims on pigs themselves and
all their progeny.

Greenpeace will lay an objection to the patent because it is in violation of
the ban on patenting "mainly biological processes" for breeding. The
European Patent Office is at present examining the extent to which patents
on the breeding of normal plants and animals may in principle be granted at
all. A decision on this is expected in 2009.

"Corporations can use patents like this to go a long way towards
monopolising animal breeding in Europe," says the patents expert Christoph
Then on Greenpeace's behalf. "It is incredible that the European Patent
Office is issuing a patent which is based on normal breeding and does not
include any inventive steps whatsoever. This takeover of food production
through patents must be halted."

The US corporation Monsanto had originally applied for the patent in 2005.
Making it known that it was collaborating closely with Monsanto, the US
corporation Lengsham Choice Genetics bought the patent while the application
was being examined.

In Greenpeace's view the patent infringes patent law rules in part because
it is neither inventive nor is there an adequate description of how the
breeding method can be used.

Greenpeace is opposed to patents on seeds and beneficial animals as part of
an international coalition (No patents on seeds) in which over 50
agricultural organisations have joined together.



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DIVA-GIS	Thursday, July 17, 2008 Posted 5:20 PM by Tevita EXTENSIVE PATENT ON PIGS ISSUED - GREENPEACE WILL LAY OBJECTION From : Genet News EXTENSIVE PATENT ON PIGS ISSUED - GREENPEACE WILL LAY OBJECTION Greenpeace will lay objection Munich/Hamburg, 16 July. - The European Patent Office in Munich is today granting an extensive patent (EP 1651777) on a method of breeding pigs despite international criticism and lack of clarity on the patent's legality. According to Greenpeace's analyses the genetic conditions described in it occur in all European pig breeds. The claims have been formulated in such a way that not only do they include the breeding method; the patent owner can in a dispute also make claims on pigs themselves and all their progeny. Greenpeace will lay an objection to the patent because it is in violation of the ban on patenting "mainly biological processes" for breeding. The European Patent Office is at present examining the extent to which patents on the breeding of normal plants and animals may in principle be granted at all. A decision on this is expected in 2009. "Corporations can use patents like this to go a long way towards monopolising animal breeding in Europe," says the patents expert Christoph Then on Greenpeace's behalf. "It is incredible that the European Patent Office is issuing a patent which is based on normal breeding and does not include any inventive steps whatsoever. This takeover of food production through patents must be halted." The US corporation Monsanto had originally applied for the patent in 2005. Making it known that it was collaborating closely with Monsanto, the US corporation Lengsham Choice Genetics bought the patent while the application was being examined. In Greenpeace's view the patent infringes patent law rules in part because it is neither inventive nor is there an adequate description of how the breeding method can be used. Greenpeace is opposed to patents on seeds and beneficial animals as part of an international coalition (No patents on seeds) in which over 50 agricultural organisations have joined together. * Comments: Post a Comment	Archive October 2002 November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 January 2010 RSS Feed Alternative feed Contact Tevita Something new: Agrobiodiversity Weblog: For discussions of conservation and sustainable use of the genetic resources of crops, livestock and their wild relatives. 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