Should corporations be allowed to own your genes and our crops? What happens when transnational corporations patent the building blocks of life and loaf? Patent laws have underpinned massive profits for some and death sentences for others, but what do we really know about their practical application? Does anyone have a right to put a patent on genes – the essence of life?

 

Join the experts for a special Q&A session to discuss this critical issue…

 

Peter Eggers

Canadian farmer Peter Eggers is one of 83 plaintiffs involved in a patent case seeking a declaratory judgment to protect us from patent infringement lawsuits. To justify that need, the plaintiffs intend to challenge both, Monsanto's patents on genetically modified seed and their bully-like behavior, which threaten organic farms. Peter Eggers is in Australia as part of a tour with the Canadian National Farmers Union.

 

Dr. Luigi Palombi

Dr. Palombi is an expert on biotechnology patents in Australia, the European Union and the United States of America. He is the author of  "Gene Cartels: Biotech Patents in the Age of Free Trade". Dr. Palombi will discuss his latest work with federal politicians, namely the Patent Amendment (Human Genes and Biological Materials) Bill 2010 that is trying to stop the patenting of human genes and naturally occurring biological materials or those that are substantially identical. 

 

Prof. Peter Cashman

Prof. Cashman is a law professor at Sydney Law School and an expert in class actions and complex litigation among others. He is appearing as junior counsel in the current Federal Court test case Cancer Voices Australia v Myriad Genetic Inc, in which the plaintiffs are challenging the patenting of human genes.

 

Details

Time: Monday, 13 Feb 2012, 5.30pm for a 6pm start; expected finish: 7.30-7.45 pm

Venue: Common Room, Level 4, Sydney Law School, Eastern Ave, University of Sydney

RSVP:  liesha.hanekroot@greenpeace.org by 12 noon on 13 Feb 12

Cost:     Free

 

Lawyers can claim 1.5 CLE points for this session.