FPÖ - Deimek: "The patent law amendment is purely for decorative purposes - it's nice to look at, but completely ineffective!"

2023-04-28 04:00:33

Federal government continues to pursue populist show politics and allows “placebo” changes to be decided without affecting national patent law

Vienna (OTS) – “This patent law amendment is purely for decorative purposes – it’s nice to look at, but completely ineffective! This populist show policy of the federal government can no longer be surpassed in terms of ridiculousness. Green Minister Gewessler says she wants to protect local consumers and farmers with this amendment. In reality, she doesn’t care about them, because she knows very well that this amendment is toothless and will not change the status quo. Nevertheless, they are trying to get Parliament to make these ‘placebo’ changes just to get a few plus points from the already sparse electorate,” criticized the liberal spokesman for research, innovation and digitization NAbg. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Deimek the changes in patent law decided yesterday in the National Council.

“Natural plants and animals cannot be patented. This applies to all forms of conventional breeding – even if random mutations occur in the laboratory so that local agriculture is protected,” Deimek quoted Minister Gewessler as saying after the Council of Ministers meeting in March, where the ÖVP and the Greens passed the changes unanimously. “Gewessler speaks of a great success and the NGOs she continuously finances describe this madness as an ‘important step’. But what is it really about? We’re talking about organic patents, for example, we’re talking about green genetic engineering, we’re talking about patents on malting barley, on beer, on lettuce, on corn and many more,” Deimek continued.

In principle, the Liberals would agree to the refusal of patenting of organic food, for example, but only if the minister was serious about it and not just misusing it as a “show measure”: “ÖVP and the Greens want to decide on changes in national patent law today, knowing full well that these changes will not affect the granting practice of the European Patent Office. The European patent is valid in around 40 countries within the EU as well as outside the EU. This also means that the environment minister can have as many national laws drawn up as she wants. Unfortunately, it will not prevent a single international company from registering a corresponding European patent. Every company, every large corporation can easily apply for a patent at a company location in an EU country and, after it has been granted, also assert it here in Austria – regardless of whether we pass this law today or not. Neither Gewessler nor any minister can do anything about it. The head of the Austrian Patent Office should have already explained that to the Minister for the Environment, but she prefers to remain resistant to advice and continue to pursue show politics.

Three questions to Gewessler would once again reveal your policy of deception and camouflage: “Federal Minister, I would like to ask you three specific questions. What options do you have as Minister to prevent an EPO patent that contradicts national legislation? Absolutely none! Does the Austrian legal situation bind the EPO in any way? No! Do you really think the EPA or the international agribusiness would be impressed by this ridiculous bogus move? Again no! And the worst part is, you know it!”