October 26, 2007
Source:
CIOPORA - International
Community of breeders of asexually reproduced ornamental and
fruit varieties
CIOPORA
and its members are increasing
their efforts in fighting piracy of plant variety rights and
other intellectual property rights. CIOPORA started a
communication campaign at Valentines 2007 providing various
partners in industry with detailed information on the negative
effects of piracy. While this will be continued, CIOPORA brought
the message “stop piracy – support creativity” very
demonstratively to the visitors and exhibitors at this years
HortiFair in Amsterdam: the “pirate” and “flower-lady”* were one
of the main attractions at the tradeshow.
“Many people don’t know that new varieties can be protected by
plant variety rights, like new inventions in other industries
might be protected by patents”, explains Dr. Edgar Krieger,
CIOPORA’s Executive Secretary. Breeding vegetatively reproduced
ornamental and fruit varieties needs a lot of know-how and
requires significant financial investments, but the results can
be very easily multiplied, also by unauthorized users. Hence,
effective protection systems and their efficient enforcement –
if necessary by legal actions – are of vital interest to
breeders. But also growers, the trade and consumers are
benefiting from well functioning protection, since all are
looking for varieties which are healthier, show new colours,
fragrances, taste or have a longer vase-life. These can only be
developed if the investments made pay off. And it is also a
matter of protecting fair competition among growers and in trade
when breeders are enforcing plant variety rights.
Breeders are asking everybody to inform themselves on existing
rights, to enter into and respect license-agreements, to trade
only with legal plants and to report alleged infringements. For
entering into dialogue with CIOPORA or reporting alleged
infringements, the e-mail address
antipiracy@ciopora.org
can be used.
CIOPORA is an international non-governmental organization,
founded in 1961, representing the interests of breeders of
asexually reproduced ornamental and fruit varieties worldwide.
Main task of CIOPORA is the constant development of systems of
protection of the intellectual property concerning ornamental
and fruit varieties. |
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