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PIPRA’s Winter 2007 quarter newsletter:
Click to Download- Newsletter-Issue 7-Winter 2007

HOME PURPOSE BACKGROUND ACTIVITIES PARTICIPANTS PUBLICATIONS CONTACT US PIPRA PORTFOLIO JOB OPPORTUNITIES

PIPRA and MIHR announce the release of our new IP Handbook at BIO 2007 in Boston on May 6. View the press release. For more information on the IP Handbook or to place an order, visit www.IPhandbook.org

The beta version of the PIPRA agricultural IP database is now on-line for public access.  Please visit it at: http://pipra.m-cam.com.  Over 6600 patents and patent applications from 45 different countries are now searchable by many fields, including licensing status.  The data represent the agricultural portfolio of 27 universities and non-profit research institutions.

PIPRA and McGill University’s Centre for Intellectual Property Policy have signed an MOU and look forward to future work together. In addition to our members, PIPRA has a broad network of affiliated institutions that provide a strong base for collaborative activities.

To download PIPRA’s inter-institutional Memorandum of Understanding click here.

Humanitarian Use Reservation of Rights Licensing Language

PIPRA's members and our pro bono attorneys at Morrison and Foerster, have collaboratively developed licensing language for a humanitarian use reservation of rights. We welcome comments and queries regarding the language and encourage its widespread adoption among technology transfer professionals.

Membership Expanded to 45 Universities and Non-Profit Institutions in 13 countries

PIPRA's membership continues to grow, both within the United States, and internationally. A full list of PIPRA members and our Memorandum of Understanding can be found on the participants page. PIPRA membership is open to universities and non-profit research institutions. For more information on joining PIPRA, please contact Sara Boettiger by phone (530-754-6725) or email.

Development of Plant Transformation Vector with Maximal FTO

PIPRA is facilitating the design, construction, and testing of a plant transformation vector with maximal freedom-to-operate. PIPRA staff, a working group of leading plant transformation scientists, and PIPRA's pro bono attorneys are working together to create a vector with as many components as possible from the public domain or owned by PIPRA members with known licensing terms. The vector will be distributed on a royalty-free basis for humanitarian uses.

Statement in support of the new initiative of agricultural universities and some institutions in the US in support for more public sector collaboration of IP

As a major seed company in SE Asia, East West Seeds has, for many years, advocated and actively sought closer contacts between private and public sector groups for the development of agriculture in SE Asia. Millions of farmers and consumers in the region have benefited from the use of our improved varieties and vegetable farming technologies. Since its inception, East West Seeds has already recognized the pinnacle role that research and development plays in the development of improved varieties. In the development process, the company has recognized the need for access to publicly and privately developed technologies and other forms of intellectual property related to vegetable breeding and farming technologies.

As a company, East West Seeds endorses the initiatives of PIPRA that aim to support more public sector collaboration on intellectual property management so that new patented agricultural technologies can remain publicly accessible and available for humanitarian and specialty crop applications. Furthermore, as a company, East West Seeds strongly recommends and advocates the adoption of this policy to other agriculture-based companies, interest groups and research organizations.

Contacts at East-West Seed Group:

Hortigenetics Research (S.E. Asia) Ltd.
Suphanburi Province, Thailand
Dr. Tom Burns / Biotechnology Manager
Email address: tomburns.th@eastwestseed.co.th

Dr. Conrad Balatero
R&D; Manager / East-West Seed Company, Inc.
Linda Vista Farm, San Ildefonso
Bulacan Province, Philippines
(concurrently IPR Coordinator East-West Seed Group)
Email address: conrad.ph@eastwestseed.com