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
UPC Court of Appeal overturns revocation of Amgen’s PCSK9 antibody patent and clarifies the UPC’s inventive step approach (Amgen v Sanofi and Regeneron)

The UPC Court of Appeal has validated Amgen’s PCSK9 antibody patent and clarified its inventive step and medical-use claim approach, bringing UPC practice closer to the EPO.

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IP updates
“Wear the damn shorts” – Sweaty Betty and the tricky question of ownership in slogans

The “wear the damn shorts” dispute reveals the risks brands face when using unregistered slogans and highlights why securing trade mark rights early is essential.

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IP updates
No one-size-fits-all: Unitary patent or national validation?

Your EP patent is granted - now choose between a Unitary Patent or standard validation. Compare coverage, costs, risks and enforcement to pick the right strategy.

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IP updates
Clarity of dependent claims and consequences for amendments in opposition proceedings

Recent EPO case T 866/24 highlights concerns over clarity of dependent claims and the limits of G 3/14, with important implications for G 1/24 and the pending G 1/25 decision.

INSIGHTS

Patents