Plant Patent Act

The Plant Patent Act, established in 1930 in the United States, allows inventors to apply for patents on new varieties of plants that have been asexually reproduced. This means that if someone develops a unique and distinct type of plant, like a new flower or fruit, they can secure exclusive rights to sell and use that plant for 20 years. This encourages innovation in agriculture and horticulture, providing inventors protection for their work while promoting the development of new, improved plant varieties.