The Community Plant Variety Office hosted a workshop with many officials of the European Patent Office (EPO) in Angers on 21 and 22 September.
This workshop was organised in the framework of the Administrative arrangement signed between the CPVO and the EPO on 11 February 2016 in which the two organisations agreed to further strengthen their relationship through the exchange of information in the area of plant-related patents and plant variety rights.
The workshop aimed to increase technical awareness and legal expertise among experts from both organizations through the exchange of knowledge and information on plant patenting and on plant variety protection. The experts visited the testing station of the French examination office, GEVES, located in Brion. The workshop was also the opportunity to share working practices regarding the use of databases and other working tools in both organisations.
Martin Ekvad, President of the CPVO and Heli Pihlajamaa, Director Patent Law at the EPO, welcomed the fruitful and very useful workshop for both organisations and look forward to further cooperation.
The organisation and participation of the two organisations in conferences, courses, workshops and other meetings of mutual interest with the aim of maintaining high quality decisions in both institutions will complement this cooperation.
For more information:
www.cpvo.europa.eu
