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
Finally: A referral to the Enlarged Board of Appeal on description amendments

The European Patent Office (EPO) has insisted upon the adaptation of the description to avoid inconsistencies with amended claims. A Board of Appeal has referred questions on the matter.

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IP updates
Stop the press, literally!

In a recent decision dated 18 July 2025, the Mannheim Local Division of the Unified Patent Court (UPC) has issued an injunction against Kodak in the United Kingdom.

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IP updates
Granini has last laugh

EUIPO upheld opposition to ‘Joker Reels’ by Granini France’s ‘JOKER +’. Decision stresses mark distinctiveness can't be dismissed solely due to broad goods descriptions.

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IP updates
Key takeaways from CJEU decision C-382/21 (27 February 2024)

CJEU clarifies Registered EU Designs (REUD) can claim priority from PCT apps, but must file within 6 months. Validity of priority claims from PCTs with earlier patents remains uncertain.

INSIGHTS

Patents