CIOPORA Academy Workshop in Chicago to focus on U.S and European IP

HAMBURG, WEST CHICAGO, USA, Germany:  This summer, CIOPORA will partner with its U.S.-based member Ball Horticultural Company to bring a CIOPORA Academy Workshop on Intellectual Property (IP) for plants to the Chicago area. With five lectures on various aspects of IP protection for plant innovations on August 15 and a tour of the Ball facilities in West Chicago on August 16, the workshop will deliver a unique learning and networking experience to horticulture professionals.

“Over the past three years, the U.S. edition of the CIOPORA Academy has become a tradition anticipated by the green sector colleagues on both sides of the big pond,” says the CIOPORA Secretary General Dr. Edgar Krieger. “The program caters to horticulture professionals active globally and it is reflected in the offered contents, providing insights into both the U.S. and European jurisdictions.”

The workshop’s programme will kick-off with lectures on the U.S. Utility Patents and Plant Variety Protection (PVP) for vegetatively reproduced crops, as well as the interplay between the breeders’ exemption under UPOV and the U.S. Plant Patent law. The European topics, including the EU patents for plant innovations and the current status of New Breeding Techniques (NBT), will follow in the afternoon. On August 16, Ball Horticultural Company will invite the participants on a tour of its West Chicago headquarters.

“Ball Horticultural Company is thrilled to co-host this educational event where breeders can learn more about Plant Variety Protection,” says Santiago Brown, Director of Research and Development for Ball. “The closer look at The Gardens at Ball and our Premier Seed Lab are excellent opportunities as well for all attendees.”

The registration opened in July. Visit http://www.ciopora.org to make your plans. Please note that tickets are offered on a first come first served basis.

Programme

August 15

1. U.S. Utility Patents for vegetatively reproduced plants

Speaker: Audrey Charles, Patent Agent and Trademark Administrator at Ball Horticultural Company

2. Plant Variety Protection for vegetatively reproduced varieties in the USA

Speaker: Travis Bliss, Counsel & IP Biotech Group Chair at Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney PC

3. UPOV, the Breeder’s Exemption, and U.S. Plant Patent Law

Speaker: Matthew Chivvis, Partner at Morrison & Foerster LLP, USA

4. Patent for Plant Innovations in the EU – new developments
5. The European Court of Justice ruling on New Breeding Techniques and its Consequences for the Horticultural Business

Speaker (4/5): Fleur Tuinzing-Westerhuis, Counsel at Houthoff, The Netherlands

August 16

Educational tour  at Ball Horticultural Company:

Welcome by CEO & President Ms. Anna Ball; Presentation about new R&D initiative at Ball and the importance of IP protection; Tour of the Ball Seed Processing Center and Seed Distribution Center; Tour of The Gardens at Ball.