When a harvested material from a protected plant variety, such as seeds, is used for further sowing and cultivating, royalties need to be paid to the breeder of this protected variety. However, according to breeders, farm-saved seeds are sometimes used as an excuse to avoid paying royalties, and clear definitions should be established internationally. Conversely, small farmer associations think that once farmers buy a protected variety, they should be able to re-use those seeds, exchange or sell them.
That’s the topic of an UPOV seminar held a couple of days ago, as summarized by IP-Watch. It’s one of those things, I think, where any reasonable person should be able to see both sides of the argument. Which are eloquently presented in the extensive materials provided.
In the end, though, I was particularly encouraged by this statement:
Axel Metzger of the University of Humboldt, Germany, said not many cases about breeders’ right infringement have been brought to court in Germany.