Plant patentsIn 1930, a new U.S. Plant Patent Act provided, for the first time, allowed patent protection for new and distinct varieties of asexually reproduced plants. This legislation resulted from the growing awareness that plant breeders had no financial incentive to enter plant breeding because they could not exercise control over their discoveries. In supporting this legislation, Thomas A. Edison testified: "This (bill) will, I feel sure, give us many Burbanks." He was referring to Luther Burbankwho during a lifetime devoted to plant breeding developed more than 800 strains and varieties of plants. Burbank was issued 16 plant patents posthumously. Plant patent No. 10,000 was issued 12 Aug 1997 for a "Geranium plant named Lois." |
