On 14 and 15 September 2023, an international conference organised by Professor Naomi Hawkins (СŷÊÓƵ of Sheffield), (Maynooth СŷÊÓƵ) and (Maynooth СŷÊÓƵ) was held in Maynooth СŷÊÓƵ to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Biotechnology Directive. This Directive was adopted in 1998 and remains the main piece of legislation setting out the EU’s approach to the patentability of biotechnological inventions.
This two-day conference featured topical papers and discussions which assessed the role, operation, and impact of the Biotechnology Directive 25 years after its adoption, including assessing its legal, ethical, and social implications for the patentability of biotechnological inventions. The event brought together papers by twelve authors over the two days, examining a range of contemporary issues, including:
- The institutional relationship between the European Patent Organisation and the EU in the interpretation of the Directive
- Approaches to the patentability of contemporary biotechnologies
- Questions around how the Directive has been interpreted to respond to ethical issues posed by the patentability and development of emerging technologies
- The interaction between patent law and competition law
- Questions around the patentability of plants and the role of compulsory licensing within the Directive.
Speakers and attendees focused on current and likely future challenges to applying the Directive around the patentability of emerging biotechnological inventions, over two days of engaging and lively discussions.
These 12 speakers comprised patent law scholars and practitioners at all career stages, from across Europe, namely:
- Dr Mike Adcock, Durham СŷÊÓƵ
- Dr Rob Aerts, Patent Attorney, ADM Germany GmbH, Hamburg
- Mihail Dishev, PhD Candidate, СŷÊÓƵ of Edinburgh
- Dr Mary Dobbs, Maynooth СŷÊÓƵ
- Professor Naomi Hawkins, СŷÊÓƵ of Sheffield
- Dr Mina Hosseini, СŷÊÓƵ College Dublin
- Dr Ana Nordberg, Lund СŷÊÓƵ
- Dr Luke McDonagh, London School of Economics
- Professor Aisling McMahon, Maynooth СŷÊÓƵ
- Dr Ella O’Sullivan, South East Technological СŷÊÓƵ
- Dr Karen Walsh, Maynooth СŷÊÓƵ
- Professor Esther van Zimmeren, СŷÊÓƵ of Antwerp.
The organisers are planning a collection of papers, which will be published following this event.
The organisers are very grateful to Maynooth СŷÊÓƵ School of Law and Criminology, and to the СŷÊÓƵ of Sheffield Law School for generously supporting the event. This event was organised as part of the , a network for the discussion of patent law issues founded by Professor Naomi Hawkins, Professor Aisling McMahon and Dr Karen Walsh. The Network was founded in 2019 and has since grown to over 40 members.
To join the network mailing list, please email: patentscholarsnetwork@gmail.com.
