CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Genetically modified organisms and their relationship to intellectual property rights will be the topic of a conference at the University of Illinois.
“Seeds of Change: Intellectual Property Protection for Agricultural Biotechnology” will be held April 8-10 at the College of ACES Library, Information and Alumni Center, 1101 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana.
Judge Randall R. Rader of the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., will begin the conference with a discussion of “Biotechnology in U.S. Courts.” Presenters and panelists representing expertise in the areas of biotechnology, economics, patent law and research also will share their knowledge during the conference sessions.
“Granting patent rights for biotechnology-enhanced seed induces private investment in research and development, creates differentiated ag-input markets, and, as we have witnessed with European consumers’ unwillingness to accept GMO foods, differentiated downstream product markets,” said Jay Kesan, a professor of law in the College of Law at Illinois and one of the conference organizers.
“Linking the role of IP rights in agriculture through the value chain shows not only how technology, markets and social policies are tightly coupled, but also indicates why IP rights are at the center of many emerging social priorities.”
The fee for the two-day conference is $195 ($125 for academics and government). Registration and program details are available online.
The conference is co-sponsored by the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES), College of Law, European Union Center, Institute of Government and Public Affairs, and the National Soybean Research Laboratory.
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