Plants, Patents, and Seed Innovation in the Agricultural Industry

Thomas, John R.

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.

关键词: Intellectual property;    Agribusiness;    Agricultural innovations;   

RP-ID  :  RL31568
RP-ID  :  RL31568_2002Sep13

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

This report offers an overview of the availability of intellectual property rights for plants, focusing upon the seed industry. It initially offers an introduction to seed innovation. The report then reviews the three intellectual property regimes applicable to plant innovation: utility patents, plant patents and plant variety protection certificates. It then details a 2001 decision of the U.S. Supreme Court, J.E.M. Ag Supply, Inc. v. Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., which held that sexually reproducing plants may be subject to utility patents.