Boult Wade Tennant
Service » Global plant breeders’ rights and national listings

We have a growing practice and specialist expertise in supporting major horticultural and biopharma clients in relation to plant breeders’ rights and national listings. The team is equipped to assist clients in national listings for plant varieties within the UK as well as obtaining rights across Europe. We also offer expert advice on the potential infringement risks associated with plant variety rights held by third parties.

 

What we do

Secure and preserve
  • We have significant experience in filing and prosecuting applications for plant breeders’ rights (known as plant variety rights in some countries) and national listings in the UK for our clients.
  • In this regard, we regularly act before the Plant Variety Rights Office of the UK Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and have filed many applications using UPOV PRISMA.
  • We are regularly appointed as agent for existing UK plant breeders’ rights, particularly those created when the UK left the EU, and based upon former corresponding Community plant variety rights.
  • We are also able to coordinate the filing of plant variety right and national listing applications outside of the UK, including in the EU.

Technical toolkits

Services

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Patents

Our European, UK and German experts advise on the creation, exploitation and enforcement of IP rights across a wide range of sectors. They provide creative IP solutions and outstanding client service.

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Trade marks

Our highly skilled experts are experienced negotiators and have particular expertise in the management of large portfolios; searching and watching; domain name recovery; and trading standards and customs work.

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Designs

The team can advise clients across a wide range of industries on matters of design law and practice. They combine their commercial knowledge with legal expertise to provide high quality advice that is always pragmatic.

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Insights

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IP updates
International Women’s Day 2026 – helping women to thrive in IP through the Women and IP mentoring scheme

For International Women’s Day, Boult highlights our commitment to women in IP, supporting career growth through IP Inclusive and the new Women in IP mentoring scheme.

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IP updates
Generation vs innovation: an analysis of UK electricity generation and energy sector patent applications for 2025

The National Energy System Operator 2025 review shows renewables supplying 44% of UK electricity. Yet patent filings tell a different story, with gas leading innovation despite wind topping generation.

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IP updates
An update on late-filed divisional patent applications

Board of Appeal decision T 700/25 casts doubt on J 1/24’s limited path to filing divisionals after grant, reaffirming that applicants should file before the parent patent grants.

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IP updates
The EPO President’s comments on description amendments (case G1/25)

In G1/25, the EPO President confirms that amended claims must be matched by description amendments under Article 84 EPC, in both examination and opposition.

INSIGHTS

Patents