European Patent Office revoked Monsanto melon patent

A patent held by Monsanto on melons (EP1962578) has been revoked by the European Patent Office (EPO)for technical reasons. It is alleged that Monsanto was claiming melons with a natural resistance to plant viruses as its own invention, derived from breeding without genetic engineering.

Yet, it was said that the resistance was detected in Indian melons and the patent was granted by the European Patent Office (EPO) even though European patent law does not allow patents on plant varieties and processes for conventional breeding. The Indian government supported the opposition from No Patents on Seeds! by sending a letter requesting the patent to be revoked. The letter was sent to the EPO one day before the hearing. Essentially they believe the application of the patent constituted an act of biopiracy - violating Indian law and international treaties.

“The patent was based on essentially biological processes for breeding and claimed plant varieties. This was a clear violation of European patent law”, says Christoph Then for the international coalition of No Patents on Seeds! which organised the opposition.

The opposition was filed by Arbeitsgemeinschaft Bäuerliche Landwirtschaft (Germany), Bund Naturschutz in Bayern (Germany), Berne Declaration (Switzerland), Gesellschaft für Ökologische Forschung (Germany), Greenpeace (Germany), No Patents on Life! (Germany), Verband Katholisches Landvolk (Germany) and Foundation for Future Farming.