Open Meetings to Include Toronto Public Conference, CIOPORA Academy Workshop and North American Breeders Meeting
HAMBURG, March 2, 2016 -- CIOPORA, the International Association of Breeders of Asexually Reproduced Ornamental and Fruit Varieties, will host its 56th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Toronto April 24-28, 2017.
CIOPORA AGM 2017 will gather innovative breeders from the ornamental and fruit industries, as well as intellectual property (IP) experts, for a five-day agenda brimming with discussions and presentations on all aspects of current national and global systems of IP protection for plant innovations. While much of the agenda is designed for CIOPORA members, the public is invited to attend:
The CIOPORA Academy Workshop – Monday, April 24 (Registration Page)
North American Breeders Meeting – Tuesday, April 25 (Registration Page)
CIOPORA Toronto Public IP Conference – Thursday, April 27 (Registration Page)
Toronto Public Conference: New Plant Breeding Techniques, Market Trends and More
The CIOPORA Public IP Conference will take place on Thursday, April 27 at the Radisson Admiral Hotel in Toronto and will be open to the public. The agenda will consist of 15 presentations and panel discussions on topics including New Plant Breeding Techniques and related challenges, North American market and trade trends in the fruit and ornamental industries, US Free Trade Agreements and their role in IP for plants, taxation of royalties and more.
“CIOPORA’s mission is to work for better intellectual property protection within the horticulture industry, which in turn stimulates innovation for an improved society. With the rapid increases in technology and globalization, this is a pivotal time for our association,” said Andrea Mansuino, President of CIOPORA. “We invite any individual with interests in the fruit or ornamental sectors to join us for the Toronto Public Conference to be a part of discussions about the current system of IP protection for plant innovation and future market trends.”
North American Breeders Meeting
The North American Breeders Meeting will be the first of its kind to gather breeders of vegetatively propagated ornamentals and fruits from the US, Canada and Mexico to discuss the challenges related to intellectual property protection faced by breeders in North America. Topics for the meeting, scheduled for the afternoon of Tuesday, April 25, will include:
Article 102b of the US Patent Act: Novelty and loss of right to Patent
The EDV Concept: How to bring mutants and GMO under the protection of the Initial Variety
The Advantages and Limitations of the US Plant Patent vs. Plant Variety Rights
The Asexual Reproduction of Seed Crops
This open only to breeders located in North America.
The CIOPORA Academy Toronto Workshop on IP
On Monday, April 24, the CIOPORA Academy, the educational arm of CIOPORA, will hold a small-group workshop focused on IP in horticulture led by experts from around the globe. Topics will include:
The Basics of Applying for Plant Patents
Trademark Law in the US
Novelty (Period of Grace) in PBR and Plant Patents
IP Enforcement in the US: Civil, Criminal and Customs Law
PBR and Trademarks in Mexico
The one-day event will be open to the public; registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.
The remainder of the AGM 2017 is an internal event for members and supporters of CIOPORA. All events will take place at the Radisson Admiral Hotel in Toronto.
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About CIOPORA: CIOPORA is the International Association of Breeders of Asexually Reproduced Ornamental and Fruit Varieties. Breeders of such varieties account for two-thirds of all Plant Variety Rights (PVR) titles in the world. For more than 50 years, CIOPORA has represented these breeders in all matters of Intellectual Property (IP) Protection and aims to foster an environment throughout the world in which the creativity and innovation of these breeders can flourish. CIOPORA is a member-based, nonprofit Swiss organization with its administrative office in Hamburg, Germany. CIOPORA: Uniting Breeders, Protecting Innovation. For more information, visit www.ciopora.org
About The CIOPORA Academy: The CIOPORA Academy is an ongoing, specialized training and certificate program for individuals seeking to expand their knowledge of Intellectual Property (IP) in the field of horticulture. CIOPORA Academy events are held at locations around the world and vary between one-day workshops to three-day seminars. Each event tackles topics surrounding IP and is led by industry experts. To learn more or view upcoming events, visit www.ciopora-academy.org
CONTACT:
Brittany Posey
Director of PR and Communications
brittany.posey@ciopora.org
+49 40 555 63 702
www.ciopora.org
