2012 CIOPORA Chronicle

AGM 2012
Intercontinental
knowledge-transfer
and networking
are the central
notions of the
upcoming Annual
General Meeting of
CIOPORA, which
will take place in
Miami Beach from
April 23 to 27, 2012.
While with regard
to the content the
focus of the AGM
will be on novelties
and challenges of
IP Protection for
plant innovation in
the Americas, the
educational events
will constitute the
core form this year’s
AGM week.
by Anna Kaehne
Learning, networking
and AGM event set
for April 23-27
The CIOPORA programme
in Miami Beach will set
off with the Intellectual
Property Seminars designed to
meet the individual interests of
the participants. The CIOPORA
members mainly interested in IP
protection regulations in EU will
be introduced into the most important
traits of the Plant Breeders’
Rights, followed by a presentation
on patents for plant innovations
and a lecture on trademarks.
The participants with business
interests in U.S. are invited to
deepen their knowledge on patents
and plant patents and learn from
the leading American IP experts
in the U.S.-oriented IP seminar.
The patentability of plant-related
inventions and varieties, the limits
of patent protection and the basics
of patent litigation, as well as
trademarks and other forms of
IP protection in the U.S will be
approached and explained. The
late afternoon of April 23 will be
dedicated to meetings of the CIO-
PORA Crop Sections. The work
of the members will be rewarded
at the welcome reception in the
picturesque garden of the Palms
Hotel.
Working Group
meetings
The Working Group meetings on
DUS and Molecular Techniques as
well as the Annual General Meeting
of CIOPORA will take place
on Tuesday, April 24. Besides the
internal matters of the association,
the current situation in UPOV and
the status of IP Protection for plant
innovation in various countries
are on the agenda. The day will be
rounded up in the familiar atmosphere
at the AGM Dinner.
IP Conference
The International IP Conference
on April 25 is planned as a
culmination of the week. Not only
members, but also guests are welcomed
to participate in the conference
and deliver their insights on
the inter national situation in IP.
A comprehensive overview of
the latest developments in the
Patent and Plant Patent law in the
U.S.A, a comparative analysis of
plant patents and Plant Variety
Rights (PVR), new developments
in UPOV as well as the situation
with IP protection in South
America and Canada are the main
topics of the conference.
Educational programme
The best theoretical learning
always needs some practice. That
is why the business excursions for
ornamentals and fruits will also
serve as parts of the week’s educational
programme. Networking
events for finding new business
contacts and strengthening of the
good old ones is on the agenda for
the closing days of the AGM week
2012.
CIOPORA sincerely hopes to
see all the old and new friends in
Miami. |||
The luxurious Palms Hotel is the perfect
venue for CIOPORA’s upcoming AGM.
CIOPORA Chronicle April 2012 | www.CIOPORA.org 39