Directive 98/44/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the legal protection of biotechnological inventions.

Subject

Cultivated plants

Keyword

Intellectual property rights/patents Biotechnology Breeders' rights/farmers' rights Plant variety Royalties/fees Data collection/reporting

Geographical area

European Union Countries

Entry into force notes

This Directive came into force on 30 July 1998.

Abstract

This Directive lays down provisions for the legal protection of biotechnological inventions with a view to encouraging investment and research in the field of biotechnology. The Directive is divided into the following five Chapters: (I) Patentability; (II) Scope of protection; (III) Compulsory cross-licensing; (IV) Deposit, access and re-deposit of a biological material; (V) Final provisions. Inventions shall be patentable in so far as they are new, involve an inventive step and are susceptible of industrial application. Biological material may be the subject of an invention, even if it previously occurred in nature, as long as it has been isolated from its natural environment or produced by means of a technical process. The following shall not be patentable: (a) plant and animal varieties; (b) essentially biological processes for the production of plants or animals. Article 12 concerns compulsory licences to be granted to breeders when they cannot acquire or exploit a plant variety right without infringing a prior patent. Such patents shall be granted upon application and previous payment of an appropriate royalty. Lastly, article 16 refers to the reports to be elaborated and forwarded by the Commission to the European Parliament and to the Council.

Full text

English

Website

europa.eu

References - Legislation

Implemented by

Decree-Law No. 3 implementing Directive 98/44/EC on the legal protection of biotechnological inventions.

Legislation | Italy | 2006

Keyword: Intellectual property rights/patents, Biotechnology, Breeders' rights/farmers' rights, Plant variety, Legal proceedings/administrative proceedings

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Patents Act (1994)

Legislation | Estonia | 1994 (2019)

Keyword: Intellectual property rights/patents, Genetic resources, Registration

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Presidential Decree No. 321/2001 adapting the Greek legislative frame to Directive 98/44/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the legal protection of biotechnological inventions.

Legislation | Greece | 2001

Keyword: Animal production, Registration, Certification, Intellectual property rights/patents, Biotechnology, Breeders' rights/farmers' rights, Plant variety, Royalties/fees

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Act on plant novelties.

Legislation | Denmark | 1987 (2020)

Keyword: Plant production, Breeders' rights/farmers' rights, Intellectual property rights/patents, Planting material/seeds, Authorization/permit, Registration, Basic legislation

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Plant Varieties Protection Law (2002)

Legislation | Latvia | 2002 (2010)

Keyword: Intellectual property rights/patents, Breeders' rights/farmers' rights, Plant variety, Viticulture/oenological practices, Contract/agreement, Authorization/permit, Basic legislation, Genetic resources, Procedural matters

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

European Communities (Legal Protection of Biotechnological Inventions) Regulations, 2000 (S.I. No. 247 of 2000).

Legislation | Ireland | 2000

Keyword: Plant production, Biotechnology, Intellectual property rights/patents, Breeders' rights/farmers' rights, Plant variety

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Patent Law (2007)

Legislation | Latvia | 2007 (2015)

Keyword: Intellectual property rights/patents, Biotechnology, Genetically modified organism (GMO)

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Loi modifiant la loi du 28 mars 1984 sur les brevets d'invention, en ce qui concerne la brevetabilité des inventions biotechnologiques (1).

Legislation | Belgium | 2005

Keyword: Intellectual property rights/patents, Biotechnology, Royalties/fees, Breeders' rights/farmers' rights, Plant variety, Data collection/reporting

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

The Patents Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000 N. 2037).

Legislation | United Kingdom | 2000

Keyword: Farming, Agricultural development, Animal reproduction, Genetic resources, Internal trade, Intellectual property rights/patents, Biosafety, Biotechnology, Plant production, Planting material/seeds, Breeders' rights/farmers' rights, Plant variety

Source: FAO, FAOLEX