Plants rights scheme extended

Press, 29 August 1980, Page 15

Plants rights scheme extended

As from August 21 there has been an increase in the number of plant species eligible for plant variety rights. The registrar of plant varieties, Mr F. W. Whitmore, said this week that the extension applied to all fruit species, all ornamental species (previously only roses had been covered), the herbage species fescue, phalaris and Yorkshire fog, also kale, rape and linseed and Phacelia. Mr Whitmore said amenity ryegrasses also now came under the

system as well as forage species. Now that it was possible to obtain rights for fruit species, it was hoped that this would have an impact on t’.ie horticulture industry in that growers would have access to a greater range of improved varieties, he said. The plant variety rights system is similar' to the granting of a patent for a new invention. The breeder of a new variety, wl o obtains the grant of a right, has the same sort of protection as an inventor does for a new design that

has been granted a patent. The holder of a grant of a right has the exclusive right to sell the variety or reproduce it, and is entitled to charge a royalty on the sale of seed or reproductive material.

The fees for obtaining a right have also been increased recently.'