Intellectual Property Rights and the Private Seed Industry

摘要

Laws protecting intellectual property rights encourage private sector seedresearch and development. The report examines the Plant-Variety Protection Act of 1970, the Plant Patent Act of 1930, utility patents, and trade secrecy. The advantages to farmers of using purchased seed rather than bin run seed is explored through a model which compares the two in three sections of the United States in 1986/1987 and 1987/1988. Purchased seed shows an advantage, which, if exploited, would also benefit farmers and the private seed research and development sector.