The goal of Plant Breeders’ Rights (PBR) is to encourage investment in plant breeding in Canada. Yet there is a misconception that PBR only benefits large companies. The fact is, large companies often have other tools to protect their intellectual property, including patents and contracts.
PBR is critically important for public breeders, including universities, and smaller private breeders who may not have the resources or traits necessary to utilize other forms of protection.
Know the new PBR rules:
- If a variety is protected under PBR, it is illegal to sell common seed, even if you don’t use the variety name.
- Under PBR, it is OK to keep seed on your farm – as long as the farm-saved rights are not pre-empted by another agreement or contract.
- Under the new PBR ’91 rules, the buyer, the processor and the seller are responsible for the infringement.
- Visit PBRfacts.ca for more information.
