Plant Variety Right Worldwide

Plant variety protection is an intellectual property (IP) right designed specifically for plant varieties, which are excluded from patent protection. But what about internationally?

Plant breeders can apply for a national plant variety protection title in most European Union (EU) member states. This is notably the case in France (for more details, see our article "How to obtain a Plant Variety Certificate (PVC) in France" ).

It is also possible to apply for EU-wide protection by means of a single application to the Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO; for further details, see our article entitled "Acquisition of a Community Plant Variety Right (PVR): instructions for use").

Legislation in most countries provides for the protection of new plant varieties. This is notably the case for member countries of the Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) (governed by the Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants).