Resumen de The breeder’s exception to patent rights as a new type of research exception

Viola Prifti

• Art. 27 (c) of the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court (AUPC) provides for a new type of exception to patent rights at European level: the breeder’s exception. This provision limits the effects of patent rights for “the use of biological material for the purpose of breeding, or discovering and developing other plant varieties”. The breeder’s exception has already been incorporated into the national patent laws of France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. When the AUPC enters into force, the exception will be mandatory for all of its contracting parties. This paper will explain the reasons for introducing the breeding exception into the patent system as well as its importance for academic and business purposes. It will also highlight how scientific developments influence legislation.