Derechos de Propiedad Intelectual y bioética- Europa.

Derechos de propiedad intelectual y bioética- Europa.

The patenting of plants and the availability of plant variety rights (PVR) has the consequence that the plant breeding community is increasingly confronted with situations where the same subject-matter may, at least theoretically, fall under more than one system of protection. In fact the European legal framework far from drawing a clear demarcation line between the two systems of protection can be exclusive, alternative or cumulative. Although there have been some attempts at harmonising the plant variety rights (PVR)  and patent systems, especially with regard to farmers privilege, some fundamental differences in the rights gained by a patent holder and a holder of a plant variety rights (PVR) still exist. Perhaps the most important difference that exists is that of the research exemption.

It is an important principle of the plant variety rights (PVR)  system that the right holders cannot prevent other breeders from using the protected plant varieties in research and development. Furthermore, any newly developed variety may be freely marketed if it is clearly distinguishable from the protected variety. The research exemption in patent law is viewed very narrowly and, while the scope of the research exemption is not clear-cut, it is mostly believed to only allow research that aims at improving the invention. In addition, exemptions and limits available under one system are not transferable to the other system. The result of this is that a patent holder can use a protected plant variety to develop a new plant with no obligation to the plant variety rights (PVR)  holder. In contrast, if the holder of the plant variety rights (PVR)  for a plant variety wishes to use the patented invention they could not do so without the permission, requiring a license and the accompanying cost implications, of the patent holder.

One further aspect of patent law that will have a significant impact  on plant breeders is that the protection conferred by a patent consisting of genetic information, such as a gene, will extend to all material in which the invention is incorporated. In the future, it is likely that an increasing number of plant varieties will contain patented inventions or several patented genetic elements. This means that if there is a patent over a gene and that gene is incorporated into a plant or plant variety. The reresult will be that the research exemption under plant variety rights (PVR)  will in effect be lost or at very best weakened further.

It is clear that the breeders of plants, whether traditional or genetically modified (GM) varieties, are not operating on a level playing fields. It seem likely that further harmonisation in this área will take place perhaps resulting in the convergence of the two systems or possibly even the disappearance of the plant variety rights (PVRs)  system altogether.

In plant variety rights (PVR), while the interests of the individual breeder are clearly of  importance, other considerations are regarded as fundamental to the system itself. This can be seen in International Union for the Protection of New varieties of Plants (UPOV’s) misión statement, which says that its object is ‘’(to) provide and promote an effective system of plant variety protection, with the aim of encouraging the development of new varieties of plants, for the benefit of society’’, and the substantive law itself expressly states that restrictions on the exercise of the right may be imposed when it is in the public interest. On this basis it would be easy to draw a superficial substantive distinction between the two rights as there is no exact equivalent statement in patent law. However, this would be a disingenuous distinction to draw for, while the patent system might not contain any overt reference to providing a public benefit, it is generally held to have a public benefit element, as ‘’a reward to inventors who have contributed to the public good’’, although the precise form of that benefit is the subject of some debate. Therefore, the debate in Europe concerns which form of intellectual property right best achieves the balance between the right granted and the benefit to society.

Derechos de Propiedad Intelectual y bioética- Europa.

La patente de plantas y la disponibilidad de la planta de derechos variedad (PVR) tiene la consecuencia de que la comunidad de fitomejoramiento se enfrenta cada vez con situaciones en las que el mismo objeto puede, al menos en teoría, corresponder en más de un sistema de protección. De hecho, el marco jurídico europeo lejos de trazar una línea de demarcación clara entre los dos sistemas de protección puede ser exclusiva, alternativa o acumulativa. Aunque ha habido algunos intentos de armonizar los derechos de obtentor (PVR) y los sistemas de patentes, especialmente en lo que respecta a los agricultores privilegio, todavía existen algunas diferencias fundamentales en los derechos adquiridos por el titular de la patente y el titular de un derecho de obtención vegetal (PVR) . Quizás la diferencia más importante que existe es el de la exención de investigación.

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