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
Keeping Boult caffeinated – sustainability and coffee at Boult

From B-Corp certified Thrive in London to Fairtrade beans in Reading and ethical small-batch roasters in Cambridge, Boult prioritises great coffee with a lighter footprint.

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IP updates
Unpicking the label

Can using a designer’s name mislead consumers? Not always. AG says only clear, intentional misuse risks trade mark revocation in the PMJC v Castelbajac fashion law clash.

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IP updates
The dual track: Parallel EPO opposition and UPC revocation strategies

With the UPC gaining traction, challengers now weigh EPO oppositions alongside UPC revocations. Parallel proceedings offer tactical advantages to pressure patentees and boost invalidation success.

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IP updates
Is plastic equivalent to metal? The doctrine of equivalents at the UPC

In Washtower v BEGA, the UPC applied the Plant-e equivalence test to grant a preliminary injunction, showing its willingness to find likely infringement beyond literal claim scope.

INSIGHTS

Patents