NCCR International Trade NCCR IP9 WORKSHOP 17 th May 2006 Patentability of Life Forms By Michelangelo Temmerman

NCCR International Trade World Trade Institute Joint Center of the Universities of Berne, Fribourg and Neuchâtel Hallerstrasse Berne, Switzerland Tel Fax IP9 Workshop

NCCR International Trade World Trade Institute Joint Center of the Universities of Berne, Fribourg and Neuchâtel Hallerstrasse Berne, Switzerland Tel Fax Patenting Gene Sequences 1.Unmodified gene (nucleic) sequences: discovery or invention? 2.Patenting higher life forms (US/Europe) or their building blocks: gene sequences and cells (Canada)? 3.Role of the industrial application requirement (purpose bound protection?) 4.The inventiveness of a sequence isolated by a known process 5.Equation between gene sequences and chemical compounds

NCCR International Trade World Trade Institute Joint Center of the Universities of Berne, Fribourg and Neuchâtel Hallerstrasse Berne, Switzerland Tel Fax Dual Protection UPOV/Patents 1.Excluding plant varieties from patentability (Europe) or allowing dual protection (US/Australia)? 2.Is the European approach efficiently excluding varieties? (loopholes?) 3.Is the UPOV system still needed? 4.What about the exclusion of animal breeds?

NCCR International Trade World Trade Institute Joint Center of the Universities of Berne, Fribourg and Neuchâtel Hallerstrasse Berne, Switzerland Tel Fax Need for International Harmonization International patent law harmonization: pros & cons Should we leave the sensitive area of biotechnology up to regional/national authorities? Special treatment for developing countries?

NCCR International Trade World Trade Institute Joint Center of the Universities of Berne, Fribourg and Neuchâtel Hallerstrasse Berne, Switzerland Tel Fax Ordre Public and Morality in the Patent Office Is the patent office the right place to deal with those concepts? (taking into account its limited role in the regulatory framework and its practical limitations to assess risks) Concept of ordre public (generally and for biotechnology in specific) Concept of morality (generally and for biotechnology in specific) Human rights