UPOV The International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants

The International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants introduction in Intellectual Property Right Subject

1. THEINTERNATIONALUNIONFORTHE
PROTECTIONOFNEWVARIETIESOFPLANTS
Dr. PratibhaBisen
Dept. Plant Breeding & Genetics
College of Agriculture, Balaghat
JNKVV Jabalpur (M.P.)

2. Definition of UPOV
TheInternationalUnionfortheProtection
ofNewVarietiesofPlants,knownas
“UPOV,” isanintergovernmental
organizationwithheadquartersinGeneva.
TheacronymUPOVisderivedfromthe
Frenchnameoftheorganization,“Union
internationalepourlaprotectiondes
obtentionsvégétales”.

3. Origins of UPOV
UPOVhasbeenestablishedbytheInternationalConventionforthe
ProtectionofNewVarietiesofPlants(the“UPOVConvention”),which
wassignedinParisin1961.
TheConventionenteredintoforcein1968.ItwasrevisedinGeneva
in1972,1978and1991.
The1978ActenteredintoforceonNovember8,1981.
The1991ActenteredintoforceonApril24,1998.

4. TheintroductionoftheUPOVsystemofplantvarietyprotection
andUPOVmembershipwerefoundtobeassociatedwith:
(a)increasedbreedingactivities,
(b)greateravailabilityofimprovedvarieties,
(c)increasednumberofnewvarieties,
(d)diversificationoftypesofbreeders(e.g.privatebreeders,
researchers),
(e)increasednumberofforeignnewvarieties,
(f)encouragingthedevelopmentofanewindustrycompetitivenesson
foreignmarkets,and
(g)improvedaccesstoforeignplantvarietiesandenhanceddomestic
breedingprograms.

5. The effect of Plant Breeders’ rights
Boththe1978andthe1991Actssetoutaminimumscopeofprotectionand
offermemberStatesthepossibilityoftakingnationalcircumstancesinto
accountintheirlegislation.
Underthe1978Act,theminimumscopeoftheplantbreeder’srightrequires
thattheholder’spriorauthorizationisnecessaryfortheproductionfor
purposesofcommercialmarketing,theofferingforsaleandthemarketingof
propagatingmaterialoftheprotectedvariety.
The1991Actcontainsmoredetailedprovisionsdefiningtheactsconcerning
propagatingmaterialinrelationtowhichtheholder’sauthorizationisrequired.

6. Likeallintellectualpropertyrights,plantbreeders’rightsaregrantedfora
limitedperiodoftime,attheendofwhichvarietiesprotectedbythempass
intothepublicdomain.
Therightsarealsosubjecttocontrols,inthepublicinterest,againstany
possibleabuse.
Itisalsoimportanttonotethattheauthorizationoftheholderofaplant
breeder’srightisnotrequiredfortheuseofhisvarietyforresearchpurposes,
includingitsuseinthebreedingoffurthernewvarieties.
Theagricultural,horticulturalandforestryindustriesandthefinalconsumer
allultimatelygainfromtheadditionalstimulusthatplantbreeders’rightsgive
tothecreationofnewvarietiesthatarebettersuitedtosatisfyman’sneeds.

8. Why new varieties of plants are protected
Protectionisaffordedtonewvarietiesofplantsbothasanincentivetothe
developmentofagriculture,horticultureandforestryandtosafeguardthe
interestsofplantbreeders.
Improvedvarietiesareanecessary,andverycost-effective,elementinthe
quantitativeandqualitativeimprovementoftheproductionoffood,
renewableenergyandrawmaterial.
Breedingnewvarietiesofplantsrequiresasubstantialinvestmentinterms
ofskill,labor,materialresources,moneyandtime.

10. Theopportunitytoobtaincertainexclusiverightsinrespectofhisnew
varietyprovidesthesuccessfulplantbreederwithabetterchanceof
recoveringhiscostsandaccumulatingthefundsnecessaryforfurther
investment.
Intheabsenceofplantbreeders’rights,thoseaimsaremoredifficultto
achievesincethereisnothingtopreventothersfrommultiplyingthe
breeder’sseedorotherpropagatingmaterialandsellingthevarietyona
commercialscale,withoutrecognizinginanywaytheworkofthebreeder.

11. Reasons for becoming a member of UPOV
BybecomingamemberofUPOV,aStatesignalsitsintentiontoprotectplant
breedersonthebasisofprinciplesthathavegainedworldwiderecognitionand
support.
Itoffersitsownplantbreedersthepossibilityofobtainingprotectioninthe
othermemberStatesandprovidesanincentivetoforeignbreederstoinvestin
plantbreedingandseedproductiononitsownterritory.
IthastheopportunitythroughmembershipofUPOVtoshareinandbenefit
fromthecombinedexperienceofthememberStatesandtocontributetothe
worldwidepromotionofplantbreeding.
Aconstanteffortofintergovernmentalcooperationisnecessarytoaccomplish
suchanaimandthisrequiresthesupportofaspecializedsecretariat.

13. The functions of UPOV
ThemainactivitiesofUPOVareconcernedwithpromotinginternational
harmonizationandcooperation,mainlybetweenitsmemberStates,andwith
assistingcountriesintheintroductionofplantvarietyprotectionlegislation.
Asmoothlyoperatinginternationaltraderequiresuniform,oratleast
mutuallycompatible,rules.
ThefactthattheUPOVConventiondefinesthebasicconceptsofplant
varietyprotectionthatmustbeincludedinthedomesticlawsofthemembers
oftheUnionleads,initself,toagreatdegreeofharmonyinthoselawsandin
thepracticaloperationoftheprotectionsystems.
UPOVservesasaforumtoexchangeviewsandshareexperiences.

14. UPOVhasestablishedadetailedsetofgeneralprinciplesfortheconduct
oftheexaminationofplantvarietiesfordistinctness,uniformityand
stability,andmorespecificguidelinesforsome160generaandspecies.
Thesenormativedocumentsareprogressivelyupdatedandextendedto
furthergeneraandspecies.
Theiruseisnotlimitedtoplantvarietyprotectionbutextendstoother
areassuchasnationallistingandseedcertification.
TheUPOVmemberStatesandtheUPOVSecretariatmaintain
contactswithandprovidelegal,administrativeandtechnical
assistancetothegovernmentsofagrowingnumberofStates
expressinginterestintheworkoftheUnionandintheideaof
plantvarietyprotection.Regularcontactsarealsomaintained
withmany intergovernmentalandinternationalnon-
governmentalorganizations

15. Benefits of protection
Thereporthighlightsthemanyandvariedbenefitsofnewplantvarieties.
Notableamongtheseare:economicbenefits,suchasvarietieswith
improvedyieldswhichleadtoreductionsinthepriceofend-productsfor
consumers,orimprovedqualityleadingtohighervalueproductswith
increasedmarketability;healthbenefits,forexamplethroughvarietieswith
improvednutritionalcontent,environmentalbenefits,suchasvarietieswith
improveddiseaseresistanceorstresstolerance;andpleasure,suchasthat
affordedbyornamentalplants.

16. Government and Management of UPOV
TheCouncilofUPOVconsistsoftherepresentativesofthemembersofthe
Union.
EachmemberthatisaStatehasonevoteintheCouncil.Underthe1991Act,
certainintergovernmentalorganizationsmayalsobecomemembersofthe
Union.
TheCouncilisresponsibleforsafeguardingtheinterestsandencouragingthe
developmentoftheUnionandforadoptingitsprogramandbudget.
TheCouncilmeetsonceeachyearinordinarysession.Ifnecessary,itis
convenedtomeetinextraordinarysession.

18. TheCouncilhasestablishedanumberofCommittees,whichmeetonce
ortwiceayear.TheSecretariatofUPOV(called“theOfficeofthe
Union”)isdirectedbyaSecretary-General.
UnderacooperationagreementwiththeWorldIntellectualProperty
Organization(WIPO),anorganizationbelongingtotheUnitedNations
system,theDirectorGeneralofthatOrganizationistheSecretary-General
ofUPOV.HeisassistedbyaViceSecretary-General.
TheOfficehasasmallinternationalstaff.

19. UPOV: The Impact of Plant Variety
Protection
Floristshopsdazzlewithflowersofevermorediversecolors,petal
shapesandperfumes.Marketdisplaysoffruitandvegetablesoffer
temptingnewvarieties–bigger,plumper,moreflavorsomeorappealing
totheeye.Fooditems,suchusbread,potatoes,rice,arecheapandofa
highquality.
Theseadvancesalldependontheworkofplantbreeders.Today
breeders,whetherindividualenthusiasts,farmers,researchinstitutionsor
multinationalcorporations,worktodevelopnewplantvarieties.

20. Improvedvarietiesareanecessaryandcost-effectivemeansofimproving
productivity,qualityandmarketabilityforfarmersandgrowers.
However,breedingnewvarietiesofplantsrequiresasubstantial
investmentofskills,labor,materialresources,moneyandtime–itcantake
morethan15yearstobringanewvarietytothemarket.
Intellectualproperty(IP)protectionisthereforeaffordedtoplantbreeders
asanincentiveforthedevelopmentofnewvarietiestocontributeto
sustainableprogressinagriculture,horticultureandforestry.

21. TheGeneva-basedInternationalUnionfortheProtectionofNew
VarietiesofPlants(UPOV)isanindependentintergovernmental
organization.
Itsmissionistoprovideandpromoteaneffectivesystemofplant
varietyprotection,withtheaimofencouragingthedevelopmentofnew
varietiesofplantsforthebenefitofsociety.
UPOVadministerstheUPOVConvention,thepurposeofwhichisto
ensurethatitsmembersacknowledgetheachievementsofbreedersof
newvarietiesofplantsbygrantingthemanintellectualpropertyrighton
thebasisofasetofclearlydefinedprinciples.

22. Theopportunitytoobtaincertainexclusiverightsinrespectofnew
varietiesprovidessuccessfulplantbreederswithabetterchanceof
recoveringtheircostsandaccumulatingthefundsnecessaryfor
furtherinvestment.
Withoutsuchrights,therewouldbenothingtopreventothersfrom
reproducingthenewvarietyandsellingitonacommercialscale,
withnobenefitaccruingtothebreeder.

23. TRIPS Agreement
(Article 28)
UPOV
(1991 Act – Article 14)
“1.A patent shall confer on its owner the
following exclusive rights:
(a) where the subject matter of a patent is a
product, to prevent third parties not having
the owner’s consent from the acts of:
“(1)[Acts in respect of the propagating
material]
(a) Subject to Articles 15 and 16, the following
acts in respect of the propagating material of the
protected variety shall require the authorization of
the breeder:
making,
using,
(i)production or reproduction
(multiplication),
(ii)conditioning for the purpose of
propagation,
offering for sale, (iii)offering for sale,
selling, or (iv)selling or other marketing,
Importing (v)exporting,
(vi)importing,
for these purposes that product;”(vii)stocking for any of the purposes mentioned
in (i) to (vi), above.”

24. Thank you