Plant variety protection: an historical perspective

Plant Variety Protection is a form of Intellectual Property Right granted to the breeder of new plant variety in relation to certain acts concerning the exploitation of the protected variety which require prior authorization of the breeder. Plant breeders developing new plant varieties are able to apply for different kinds of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). However, this is the result of complex historical process that only resulted in the consideration of plants as suitable for intellectual property protection at a global scale. This paper examine overview of the evolution of Intellectual property (IP) protection for plant varieties are a highly topical and strongly debated issues, in its proposal and implementation, relating the institutional history. We have identified some main issues that were discussed along history.