RE: [tomato] Re: Red Savina Habanero Pepper
cvinson@mindspring.com (Tomato@GlobalGarden.com)
Thu, 1 Apr 1999 00:21:27 -0500
Doreen wrote:
In all fairness, it is easy for
the developer of an Op variety to lose all rights and profits. Tom Wagner
of Tater'Mater is a good example of that. All the wonderful tomatoes like
Schimmeig Stoo, Green Zebra and Green Grape he developed--the profits went
to others.
So true. And they are all three GREAT tomatoes!
BTW, I thought that OP varieties could not be patented, only
hybrids. Has this changed or am I mistaken?
An OP variety can be covered by PVP--Plant Variety Protected. Various
cultivars of shrubs and perennials are covered by PVP. It's a reasonable
mechanism to provide some degree of protection for the individual/company
that made the initial investment of time, talent and $ to develop a new
variety and bring it to market.
Catharine