1/04/2019 – Stellenbosch Workshop on IP for Plants
01/04/2019
Somerset West/Stellenbosch, South Africa
Impressions
April 1, Somerset West/Stellenbosch – with 45 participants, the AGM edition of the CIOPORA Academy in Stellenbosch, South Africa, became the best-attended workshop since the launch of the program by CIOPORA in 2016.
The workshop addressed the most anticipated topics in the IP protection for plant innovations 2018/2019 with five modules dedicated to the Chinese IP regime and enforcement options; a full overview of the the protection options in the US, including the update of the PVP Act and its opening to asexually reproduced plant varieties; the IP for plants in South Africa and the possible developments in connection with the new PBR Act that is most likely to come into force in 2020; and, finally, the latest developments in the EU Trademarks and the possible effects of the various Brexit scenarios on TM protection.
Elliot Papageorgiou, Clyde & Co, China 
Bastiaan Koster, Partner, Von Seidels IP Attorneys, South Africa 
Judge Luo Xia, IP Court of SPC of China 
Thomas Leidereiter, Green Rights 
Travis Bliss, Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney, USA
Workshop:
From April 1 to 5, 2019, CIOPORA will hold its Annual General Meeting in Stellenbosch, South Africa. On the first day of the AGM week, the association will welcome its members and guests for the third AGM edition of the CIOPORA Academy. The workshop will feature five modules held by the expert speakers.
Tentative program:
08:30 – 09:00 – Arrival & registration
09:00 – 10:15 – Module 1: Doing business in China – licensing, investing and remitting royalties, Mr Elliot Papageorgiou, Clyde & Co, China/Shanghai
10:15 – 10:45 – Coffee break
10:45 – 12:00 – Module 2: IP Enforcement in China, Hon. Luo Xia, Judge, The Supreme People’s Court of People’s Republic of China
12:00 – 13:15 – Lunch
13:15 – 14:30 – Module 3: Basics of IP Protection of Plant Innovation in South Africa and Africa – PBRs, Patents, Trademarks and Alternative Protection Mechanisms, Mr Bastiaan Koster, Von Seidels IP Attorneys, South Africa
14:30 – 15:00 – Coffee break
15:00 – 16:15 – Module 4: New Developments in IP for Plants in the US, Mr Travis Bliss, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC, USA
16:15 – 16:45 – Coffee break
16:45 – 18:00 – Module 5: Trademarks in Europe – An Update on the Latest Developments and Case Law, Mr Thomas Leidereiter, Green Rights, Germany
The group reconvenes at 19:00 in the hotel courtyard for the Networking reception.
19:00 – ca 21:00 – Networking reception in the Courtyard, NH Cape Town Lord Charles
When?
April 1, 2019, 8:30 – 18:00
Help us spread the word!
Download our promotion flyer to invite colleagues & partners:
Where?
NH Cape Town Lord Charles – Download booking form (members) or request it now via email.
Meet the speakers:
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Elliot PapageorgiouPartner & Head of Intellectual Property at Clyde & Co, China
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Judge Luo XiaSenior Judge, IP Court, the Supreme People’s Court (“SPC”), P.R. of China
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Bastiaan KosterManaging Partner, Von Seidels, South Africa
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Travis Bliss, Ph.D.
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Thomas Leidereiter, LL.M.
Elliot Papageorgiou
Judge Luo Xia
Judge Luo has successively served as the Assistant Judge and the Judge of the IP and Administrative Divisions of SPC since November 2007. She has been concentrating on the trials in respect of Patent, PVR, technology contract, and unfair competition. She is one of the drafters of the Judicial Interpretation on Several Issues concerning the Application of Law in the Trial of New Plant Variety Infringement Dispute (2007). She specializes in patent disputes and is responsible for the SPC’s Patent Right Judicial Examination Memorandums. Judge Luo has handled a large number of cases that gained prominence both in China and abroad, with some cases selected as the National TOP 10 civil/administrative cases of 2015.
Bastiaan Koster
Bastiaan Koster is a registered South African Patent Attorney and Trademark practitioner. With educational background in electronic engineering, he began his career in Intellectual Property (IP) in 1988. Currently, he is the Managing Partner at Von Seidels, aCape Town based IP law firm.
Over the years, Bastiaan has developed an interest in advising clients on IP matters with specific emphasis on commercialisation and competitiveness. He also has extensive expertise in the area of Plant Breeders’ Rights (PBR), including commercialisation and PBR licensing. For many years, Bastiaan served on the Council of the South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law (SAIIPL) and held its Presidency in 2007.
Apart from his qualifications in South African law, Bastiaan is also involved in IP in the international context. He is a past president of the International Federation of Intellectual Property Attorneys (FICPI) and has previously chaired the FICPI sub-committee dealing with Traditional Knowledge, Genetic Resources, and Folklore
Travis Bliss, Ph.D.
Travis Bliss
Partner at Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel LLP
Travis Bliss counsels a variety of clients ranging from individual inventors to small businesses to Fortune 500 companies in nearly all aspects of Intellectual Property law. Travis prepares and prosecutes patent applications; litigates patent, Trademark, and other IP disputes in federal and state courts; represents clients before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Patent Trial and Appeal Board; counsels clients in a variety of IP issues, including due diligence, FTO, infringement, and patentability; and prepares and negotiates IP licenses. From a technology standpoint, Travis’s practice falls largely within the life sciences field and also includes a large focus on novel plant varieties in the agriculture, horticulture, and cannabis/hemp industries. Travis has been a lawyer member of CIOPORA since 2014.
Thomas Leidereiter, LL.M.
Thomas Leidereiter
Attorney, Green Rights, Germany
Thomas Leidreiter is an attorney and the owner of Green Rights in Hamburg, Germany. With nearly two decades’ experience as a specialized IP lawyer, including 14 years at a major German law firm and five years at his own, he has extensive expertise covering Plant Variety Protection, trademarks, designs, copyright and competition law. Thomas advises clients on all aspects of IP protection for plant innovations, including the licensing and enforcement of IP rights. He has been involved in a number of major court cases dealing with fundamental PVR issues in the ornamental and fruit sector. Thomas is a member of INTA, the German Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (GRUR), CIOPORA and CIOPORA Germany. He is a regular speaker on IP topics with several associations and institutions.
More information soon…
Networking reception
The traditional evening networking event will take place in the hotel courtyard at 19:00. The participation in the Networking reception is not included in the CIOPORA Academy tickets and can be booked either as a part of the All-in AGM Week ticket or as a single event here:
- members – AGM 2019 Registration
- guests – Public AGM Registration
When? April 1, 2019, 19:00
Where? Courtyard, NH Cape Town Lord Charles
Dress code: Smart casual
Accommodation:
The Hotel NH Cape Town Lord Charles has provided special rates for the CIOPORA group over the duration of the CIOPORA AGM Week 2019.
To book you accommodation:
– members – please download the booking form in the member area at www.ciopora.org.
– non-members – please request your booking form at anna.kaehne@ciopora.org.
How to get there?
NH Cape Town Lord Charles is located 30 min. drive out of the Cape Town Airport. You can opt for renting a car, taking a taxi or booking a more convenient airport transfer in advance. The airport transfers are offered by A2B Tours and can be booked either directly via your hotel booking form or by reaching out to the hotel’s concierge desk.
Transfer rates (subject to change):
Airport – NH Lord Charles one way – R 490,-
Download the transportation flyer.
