Patents on conventionally-bred lettuce reveal European dilemma

Lettuce The European Patent Office (EPO) held a hearing on 7 February 2024 on an opposition filed by No Patents on Seeds! against a patent granted on conventionally-bred lettuce (EP2966992). This backgrounder has been compiled to provide information on the patent being opposed (more info here); it also provides an overview of other patent applications filed for conventionally-bred lettuce. It also discusses options for licencing contracts.

February 2024

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Backgrounder Patents on Lettuce (PDF)

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Stop Patents on Plants and Animals!

The member organisations of NO PATENTS ON SEEDS! are concerned about the increasing number of patents on plants, seeds and farm animals and their impact on farmers, breeders, innovation and biodiversity.
These patents are an abuse of patent law and put in danger the access to basic resources in agriculture and food production.

Therefore, we call for an urgent re-think of European patent law in biotechnology and plant breeding and for clear regulations that exclude conventional breeding, genetic material, animals, plants and food derived thereof from patentability!