Regular intellectual property news from Australia and overseas.
New website launched: Understanding Plant Breeder's Rights
7 April – A new website on Plant Breeder's Rights has been launched by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources, Bob Baldwin. The website contains information designed to help improve understanding on all aspects of Australia's Plant Breeder's Rights system. Plant Breeder's Rights is a form of intellectual property for new plant varieties that is granted to individuals by application to IP Australia. The 'Understanding Plant Breeder's Rights' website is a joint effort between the Australian Centre for Intellectual Property in Agriculture (ACIPA) and IP Australia, that was initiated through funding from the Australian Research Council. The website is intended to cater for users, breeders, growers, lawyers and attorneys, researchers and members of the public, with the aim of increasing understanding of the principles and issues associated with Plant Breeder's Rights. 'The level of understanding of plant breeder's rights is generally poor, even within professional circles' said Bob Baldwin. 'This multi-layered website tackles a range of issues and provides comprehensive information on case law, commercialisation, enforcement and the relationship of PBR to other intellectual property rights.'
[Source: Media Release for the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources]