Like everything, it depends upon the country and the IP protection sought. Even in the U.S. with the most stupid IP laws, the standard PVP (plant variety protection) has what is called breeders rights. This allows a breeder or researcher to use the genetics for research or development of other products. In most countries around the world this is the only type of IP available.
In the U.S. every so often a dickhead gets a utility patent on a variety or inbred. This has fallen out of practice for any variety sold internationally as the patent is not respected once the plants cross the border. Instead they patent GMO or mutagenic traits. Since these can be inventions, they are usually protected internationally.
OwOarchist@pawb.social 1 day ago
In some cases, it can be. Certain varieties are protected by intellectual property law and whoever owns the rights to it (probably Monsanto, tbh) can sue you if you propagate and distribute unauthorized copies.
What a shitty, fucked up world we live in…
SpaghettiMaster@feddit.uk 1 day ago
I didn’t distribute them, someone must have been confused and took them. The left tub is pruning waste, the right one is the one with the free cuttings and bulbs sign.
jaybone@lemmy.zip 1 day ago
It’s almost like AI, wrt responsibility. Some seeds blow over to another farmer’s field and start to grow, suddenly that farmer can have a ton of problems, through no fault of his own.