Greenpeace press release중에 있는 내용입니다.Greenpeace에 의하면 Amrad라는 Australian회사가 ‘chimaeric'(mixed-species) animal(아마도 최악의 경우 human+other)을 만들 수도 있는 내용을 포함하는 특허를 작년에 EPO로부터 받았다는건데…정말 그런지 European patent 380646를 한번 찾아볼 필요가 있겠군요. —Source : Greenpeace international genetic engineering website (http://www.greenpeace.org/~geneng/) Press releases —GREENPEACE CALLS EUROPEAN STATES TO STOP PATENTING LIFE 19 November 2000Brussels/Munich: Greenpeace today called on member states of the European Patent Convention (EPC) to exercise their moral and legal responsibility to stop the scandalous practice of granting patents on life (human, animal and plant) through its administrative bureau, the European Patent Office (EPO). Demonstrating the fact that patenting life has become ‘business as usual’ in Europe, Greenpeace exposed an unknown but valid European patent (380646), which covers embryos containing cells from humans and animals. This patent was granted by the European Patent Office (EPO) to an Australian company, Amrad, in 1999. Patent 380646 covers methods to isolate and propagate cells from human and animal embryos – stating explicitly that “the embryonic stem cells are derived from humans, mice, birds, sheep, pigs, cattle, goats or fish” to be used to create ‘chimaeric’ (mixed-species) animals. Only last month, when publicly challenged by Greenpeace on a patent application to cover human/animal embryos, the EPO stated that such patent “would never be granted”. At that moment the patent revealed by Greenpeace today had already been granted for more than a year. “The European Patent Office (EPO), previously involved in the rather mundane business of granting patents to industrial inventions, has taken a quantum leap into the field of granting patents on life – from human and animal organs and genes to plants. The EPO treats human and animal genes and organs- when isolated from living organisms – as well as plants as ‘biological material’ and as human inventions. It is no accident that patents are also granted on mixed- species embryos,” said Christoph Then, Greenpeace Genetic Engineering Campaigner. In June 1999, the EPO quietly took a decision to implement the European Union Biotech Patents Directive (98/44/EC), which allows patents on life. The provisions of this directive are in direct conflict with those of the Patent Convention – which is not an EU instrument – and which the EPO is legally obliged to implement. (1) Information collected by Greenpeace shows that during the past year, the EPO has granted several patents also on seeds and plant varieties, despite the fact that the patent convention law itself prohibits such patents. “The EPO has overstepped its mandate given in its founding treaty – the European Patent Convention. It is unacceptable that the EPO ignores its own legal basis and the negative impacts of these patents on life. The Diplomatic Conference of the member states has the legal power and the moral obligation to overturn the decision to implement the controversial EU Directive which is now criticised by many European states,” said Then. ————————————————————————FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:In Munich, Germany, Christoph Then, Greenpeace Genetic Engineering Campaigner; Tel: +49-171-8780-832; Thomas Schweiger, Greenpeace GE campaigner, Tel: +49-171-8780-844; Michael Hopf, Press Officer, Greenpeace Germany, Tel: +49-171-8780-835. In Brussels: Brigid Gavin, Greenpeace EU Advisor for the GE campaign, Tel: +32-496163365; Lorenzo Consoli, GP EU office Press Officer, Tel: +32-75 955465 Or see the website: http://www.greenpeace.org ————————————————————————(1) As the European Patent Office interprets all exemption from patentability as narrowly as possible – in other words grants patents unless they are explicitly forbidden – life is not covered by any exclusion from patenting. Most EU countries have not yet implemented the Biotech Patent Directive (98/44/EC) into their national law despite the fact that the deadline to do so passed last July. In October, the German government decided to initiate a re-negotiation process on EU level. The Netherlands, Italy and Norway have disputed the EU Biotech Patent Directive at the European Court of Justice. France has stated that it cannot implement the directives as it currently stands. Also Belgium has also voiced its concern. The parties of the convention are set to meet in a diplomatic conference on 20th – 29th November, 2000, in Munich, Germany. Greenpeace and other Non-Governmental Organisation have been denied access to the EPC Conference although the industry representatives are allowed to participate. 첨부 파일과거 URLhttp://www.ipleft.or.kr/bbs/view.php?board=ipleft_5&id=93