Plant Variety Rights | Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand

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<div class="outer-page-wrapper outer-page-wrapper--padding-default"> <div class="block-ip-intro ip-section-background ip-type-8 ip-icon-5"> <div class="page-wrapper"> <div class="layout-row"> <h2 class="title">Plant variety rights</h2> <div class="layout-col layout-col-7"> <div class="description"> <p class="main">A grant of Plant Variety Rights for a new plant variety provides the exclusive right to exploit propagating material of the variety.</p> </div> </div> <div class="layout-col layout-col-5"> <div class="ip-feature-list"> <ul> <li> <svg width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M6 8C6 4.68629 8.68629 2 12 2C15.3137 2 18 4.68629 18 8V9.15032C18.2826 9.21225 18.5539 9.30243 18.816 9.43597C19.5686 9.81947 20.1805 10.4314 20.564 11.184C20.8113 11.6694 20.9099 12.1861 20.9558 12.7482C21 13.2894 21 13.9537 21 14.7587V16.2413C21 17.0463 21 17.7106 20.9558 18.2518C20.9099 18.8139 20.8113 19.3306 20.564 19.816C20.1805 20.5686 19.5686 21.1805 18.816 21.564C18.3306 21.8113 17.8139 21.9099 17.2518 21.9558C16.7106 22 16.0463 22 15.2413 22H8.75868C7.95372 22 7.28936 22 6.74817 21.9558C6.18608 21.9099 5.66937 21.8113 5.18404 21.564C4.43139 21.1805 3.81947 20.5686 3.43597 19.816C3.18868 19.3306 3.09012 18.8139 3.04419 18.2518C2.99998 17.7106 2.99999 17.0463 3 16.2413V14.7587C2.99999 13.9537 2.99998 13.2894 3.04419 12.7482C3.09012 12.1861 3.18868 11.6694 3.43597 11.184C3.81947 10.4314 4.43139 9.81947 5.18404 9.43597C5.44614 9.30243 5.71739 9.21225 6 9.15032V8ZM8 9.00163C8.23771 8.99999 8.4904 9 8.7587 9H15.2413C15.5096 9 15.7623 8.99999 16 9.00163V8C16 5.79086 14.2091 4 12 4C9.79086 4 8 5.79086 8 8V9.00163ZM6.91104 11.0376C6.47262 11.0734 6.24842 11.1383 6.09202 11.218C5.7157 11.4097 5.40973 11.7157 5.21799 12.092C5.1383 12.2484 5.07337 12.4726 5.03755 12.911C5.00078 13.3611 5 13.9434 5 14.8V16.2C5 17.0566 5.00078 17.6389 5.03755 18.089C5.07337 18.5274 5.1383 18.7516 5.21799 18.908C5.40973 19.2843 5.7157 19.5903 6.09202 19.782C6.24842 19.8617 6.47262 19.9266 6.91104 19.9624C7.36113 19.9992 7.94342 20 8.8 20H15.2C16.0566 20 16.6389 19.9992 17.089 19.9624C17.5274 19.9266 17.7516 19.8617 17.908 19.782C18.2843 19.5903 18.5903 19.2843 18.782 18.908C18.8617 18.7516 18.9266 18.5274 18.9624 18.089C18.9992 17.6389 19 17.0566 19 16.2V14.8C19 13.9434 18.9992 13.3611 18.9624 12.911C18.9266 12.4726 18.8617 12.2484 18.782 12.092C18.5903 11.7157 18.2843 11.4097 17.908 11.218C17.7516 11.1383 17.5274 11.0734 17.089 11.0376C16.6389 11.0008 16.0566 11 15.2 11H8.8C7.94342 11 7.36113 11.0008 6.91104 11.0376ZM12 13.5C12.5523 13.5 13 13.9477 13 14.5V16.5C13 17.0523 12.5523 17.5 12 17.5C11.4477 17.5 11 17.0523 11 16.5V14.5C11 13.9477 11.4477 13.5 12 13.5Z" fill="black"/> </svg> Protects your specific plant variety </li> <li> <svg width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M12 3C7.02944 3 3 7.02944 3 12C3 16.9706 7.02944 21 12 21C16.9706 21 21 16.9706 21 12C21 7.02944 16.9706 3 12 3ZM1 12C1 5.92487 5.92487 1 12 1C18.0751 1 23 5.92487 23 12C23 18.0751 18.0751 23 12 23C5.92487 23 1 18.0751 1 12ZM12 4.5C12.5523 4.5 13 4.94772 13 5.5V6H13.1667C15.0076 6 16.5 7.49238 16.5 9.33333C16.5 9.88562 16.0523 10.3333 15.5 10.3333C14.9477 10.3333 14.5 9.88562 14.5 9.33333C14.5 8.59695 13.903 8 13.1667 8H11C10.1716 8 9.5 8.67157 9.5 9.5C9.5 10.3284 10.1716 11 11 11H13C14.933 11 16.5 12.567 16.5 14.5C16.5 16.433 14.933 18 13 18V18.5C13 19.0523 12.5523 19.5 12 19.5C11.4477 19.5 11 19.0523 11 18.5V18H10.8333C8.99238 18 7.5 16.5076 7.5 14.6667C7.5 14.1144 7.94772 13.6667 8.5 13.6667C9.05228 13.6667 9.5 14.1144 9.5 14.6667C9.5 15.403 10.097 16 10.8333 16H13C13.8284 16 14.5 15.3284 14.5 14.5C14.5 13.6716 13.8284 13 13 13H11C9.067 13 7.5 11.433 7.5 9.5C7.5 7.567 9.067 6 11 6V5.5C11 4.94772 11.4477 4.5 12 4.5Z" fill="black"/> </svg> Costs a minimum of $1,395, excluding GST </li> <li> <svg width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M12 3C7.02944 3 3 7.02944 3 12C3 16.9706 7.02944 21 12 21C16.9706 21 21 16.9706 21 12C21 7.02944 16.9706 3 12 3ZM1 12C1 5.92487 5.92487 1 12 1C18.0751 1 23 5.92487 23 12C23 18.0751 18.0751 23 12 23C5.92487 23 1 18.0751 1 12ZM12 5C12.5523 5 13 5.44772 13 6V11.382L16.4472 13.1056C16.9412 13.3526 17.1414 13.9532 16.8944 14.4472C16.6474 14.9412 16.0468 15.1414 15.5528 14.8944L11.5528 12.8944C11.214 12.725 11 12.3788 11 12V6C11 5.44772 11.4477 5 12 5Z" fill="black"/> </svg> Usually takes 1 to 5 years to acquire </li> <li> <svg width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M17.6569 6.34315C14.5327 3.21895 9.46734 3.21895 6.34315 6.34315C5.23515 7.45114 4.52139 8.80057 4.19904 10.2213C4.07684 10.7599 3.54115 11.0974 3.00256 10.9752C2.46396 10.853 2.12641 10.3173 2.24862 9.77873C2.652 8.00086 3.54638 6.31149 4.92893 4.92893C8.83418 1.02369 15.1658 1.02369 19.0711 4.92893C19.8691 5.72692 20.5003 6.3951 21 6.95359V4C21 3.44772 21.4477 3 22 3C22.5523 3 23 3.44772 23 4V10C23 10.5523 22.5523 11 22 11H16C15.4477 11 15 10.5523 15 10C15 9.44772 15.4477 9 16 9H20.1257C19.6137 8.38306 18.8352 7.52152 17.6569 6.34315ZM20.9974 13.0248C21.536 13.147 21.8736 13.6827 21.7514 14.2213C21.348 15.9991 20.4536 17.6885 19.0711 19.0711C15.1658 22.9763 8.83418 22.9763 4.92893 19.0711C4.13094 18.2731 3.49975 17.6049 3 17.0464V20C3 20.5523 2.55228 21 2 21C1.44772 21 1 20.5523 1 20V14C1 13.4477 1.44772 13 2 13H8C8.55228 13 9 13.4477 9 14C9 14.5523 8.55228 15 8 15H3.87429C4.38627 15.6169 5.16477 16.4785 6.34315 17.6569C9.46734 20.781 14.5327 20.781 17.6569 17.6569C18.7648 16.5489 19.4786 15.1994 19.801 13.7787C19.9232 13.2401 20.4588 12.9026 20.9974 13.0248Z" fill="black"/> </svg> Can last 20 to 25 years </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="anchor-links"> <ul> <li><a href="#getting-started" class="button">Getting started</a></li> <li><a href="#managing-pvrs" class="button">Managing PVRs</a></li> <li><a href="#ip-index" class="button">In this section</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>   <div class="shell-body" id="content">  <div class="page-maincontent" id="content"> <div class="page-wrapper-wide">  <div class="ip-section-content-row layout-row" id="getting-started"> <div class="content-wrapper"> <div class="layout-col layout-col-3 ip-section-content-row--title-desktop"> <h2>Getting started</h2> </div> <div class="layout-col layout-col-5"> <h2 class="ip-section-content-row--title-mobile" >Getting started</h2> <p>Plant Variety Rights (PVRs) are presently available for varieties of any kind of plant other than bacteria. The word "variety" is used not in the sense of a "botanical variety", but rather as being synonymous with "cultivar" or "cultivated variety".</p><p>Exploitation of a protected variety includes any of the following:</p><ul> <li>Production or reproduction</li> <li>Conditioning for the purpose of propagation</li> <li>Selling or offering for sale or other marketing</li> <li>Importing or exporting</li> <li>Stocking for the purpose of undertaking any of the above</li> </ul><p>By providing a tool to control commercialisation of a variety, PVRs encourage investment and effort into plant breeding in New Zealand. You can find more details on the nature and volume of PVR applications in our infographics below. </p><ul> <li><a title="PVR infographic 2016" href="/assets/pdf/PVR/PVR-infographic-2016.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-doc-link="">2015/16 [PDF, 238 KB]</a></li> <li><a href="/assets/Uploads/PVR-infographic-2018.pdf" data-doc-link="" rel="noopener" target="_blank">2017/18 [PDF, 268 KB]</a></li> <li><a title="PVR infographic 2019" href="/assets/Uploads/PVR-infographic-2019.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-doc-link="">2018/19 [PDF, 191 KB]</a></li> <li><a title="PVR infographic 2020" href="/assets/Uploads/iponz-plant-variety-rights-infographic-2020.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-doc-link="">2019/20 [PDF, 245 KB]</a></li> <li><a href="/assets/pdf/PVR/iponz-plant-variety-rights-infographic-2021.pdf" data-doc-link="" rel="noopener" target="_blank">2020/21 [PDF, 282 KB]</a></li> </ul><p>The rights scheme also allows New Zealanders access to overseas-bred varieties which would not be released here by their breeders without the protection of the legislation. As a result farmers, horticultural producers and home gardeners gain access to an increased number and range of improved varieties.</p><p>A grant of Plant Variety Rights may be made if:</p><ul> <li>it is new,</li> <li>it is distinct, sufficiently uniform and stable,</li> <li>it has an acceptable denomination, and</li> <li>formalities are met.</li> </ul><p>The Plant Variety Rights Act 2022 also includes provisions for indigenous plant species and non-indigenous plant species of significance. These provisions recognise and respect the Crown鈥檚 obligations under the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi / the Treaty of Waitangi, through protecting kaitiaki relationships with taonga species and m膩tauranga M膩ori.</p> </div> <div class="layout-col layout-col-4">  <ul class="block-ip-section-links"> <li> <a href="/get-ip/pvr/apply/" > <span class="icon-right-open reverse"></span> <h3 class="title">Apply for a Plant Variety Right</h3> <div class="description">Step by step guide that will help make the application process easy to follow and understand.</div> </a> </li> <li> <a href="/get-ip/pvr/search/" > <span class="icon-right-open reverse"></span> <h3 class="title">Search for existing Plant Variety Rights</h3> <div class="description">Check if a plant variety is protected or provisionally protected before you commercially propagate and sell plants of that variety.</div> </a> </li> <li> <a href="/get-ip/pvr/fees/" > <span class="icon-right-open reverse"></span> <h3 class="title">Fees</h3> <div class="description">Details on application, examination, test trial and renewal fees.</div> </a> </li> <li> <a href="/get-ip/pvr/technical-questionnaires/" > <span class="icon-right-open reverse"></span> <h3 class="title">Forms (technical questionnaires)</h3> <div class="description">Before you begin your application process, you need to fill in the appropriate genus or species technical questionnaire.</div> </a> </li> <li> <a href="/get-ip/pvr/international/" > <span class="icon-right-open reverse"></span> <h3 class="title">International plant variety protection</h3> <div class="description">Find out how you can protect and manage your Plant Variety Rights overseas.</div> </a> </li> </ul>  </div> </div> </div>   <div class="ip-section-content-row layout-row" id="managing-pvrs"> <div class="content-wrapper"> <div class="layout-col layout-col-3 ip-section-content-row--title-desktop"> <h2>Managing PVRs</h2> </div> <div class="layout-col layout-col-5"> <h2 class="ip-section-content-row--title-mobile" >Managing PVRs</h2> <p>The protection given to a breeder of a new plant variety by a grant of PVR is a particular form of intellectual property.</p> <p>As a PVR holder you may license others to exploit material of the protected variety. Rights holders commonly collect royalties from the commercialisation of their protected varieties.</p> <p>As with other types of proprietary rights, you may bring civil action against persons or businesses infringing your rights. Other people are free to:</p> <ul> <li>grow or use a protected variety for private and non-commercial purposes,</li> <li>use the plants or parts of the protected variety for experimental purposes,</li> <li>use a protected variety for breeding new plant varieties.</li> </ul> </div> <div class="layout-col layout-col-4">  <ul class="block-ip-section-links"> <li> <a href="/get-ip/pvr/pvr-process/" > <span class="icon-right-open reverse"></span> <h3 class="title">Process</h3> <div class="description">Once submitted and accepted, your application for a Plant Variety Right will be examined by this process.</div> </a> </li> <li> <a href="/get-ip/pvr/maintain/" > <span class="icon-right-open reverse"></span> <h3 class="title">Manage</h3> <div class="description">It is your responsibility as a Plant Variety Rights applicant or rights holder to protect and maintain your interests in any protected variety.</div> </a> </li> <li> <a href="/get-ip/pvr/naming-and-labelling-varieties/" > <span class="icon-right-open reverse"></span> <h3 class="title">Naming and labelling your variety</h3> <div class="description">It is important that you identify your variety as protected in the marketplace by stating this on all labels and promotional material.</div> </a> </li> <li> <a href="/get-ip/pvr/compulsory-licences-or-sale-orders/" > <span class="icon-right-open reverse"></span> <h3 class="title">Compulsory licences or sale orders</h3> <div class="description">You can request a compulsory licence for a variety in some situations where you are not able to obtain authorisation from the variety owner.</div> </a> </li> <li> <a href="/get-ip/pvr/infringement/" > <span class="icon-right-open reverse"></span> <h3 class="title">Infringements</h3> <div class="description">As a form of intellectual property, upholding or enforcing your Rights is solely the responsibility of the Rights holder. The management of protected varieties varies greatly depending on the plant species and the objective and approach of the Rights holder.</div> </a> </li> <li> <a href="/get-ip/pvr/technical-guidance/" > <span class="icon-right-open reverse"></span> <h3 class="title">Technical guidance</h3> <div class="description">Detailed information for testing practices including growing trial requirements, supply of plant material and other testing and examination activities.</div> </a> </li> <li> <a href="/get-ip/pvr/pvr-journal/" > <span class="icon-right-open reverse"></span> <h3 class="title">Plant Variety Rights Journal</h3> <div class="description">Information the Commissioner is required to publish including notice of every decision to make or decline a grant and all prescribed particulars relating to applications and grants.</div> </a> </li> <li> <a href="/get-ip/pvr/pvr-act-review/" > <span class="icon-right-open reverse"></span> <h3 class="title">Plant Variety Rights Act review</h3> <div class="description">A new Plant Variety Rights Act 2022 came into force in January 2023, following a review of the Plant Variety Rights Act 1987.</div> </a> </li> <li> <a href="/get-ip/pvr/maori-plant-varieties-committee/" > <span class="icon-right-open reverse"></span> <h3 class="title">M膩ori Plant Varieties Committee</h3> <div class="description">The M膩ori Plant Varieties Committee assesses whether the grant of a Plant Variety Right will have adverse effects on associated kaitiaki relationships.</div> </a> </li> </ul>  </div> </div> </div>  </div> </div>  <div class="outer-page-wrapper outer-page-wrapper--padding-default"> <div class="shell-page-footer"> <div class="bottom-page-nav-wrapper"> <div class="page-wrapper" id="ip-index">  <nav class="nav-in-this-section"> <h2 class="nav-title">In this section</h2> <ul> <li> <a href="/get-ip/pvr/apply/"> <span class="icon-right-open"></span> <h3 class="title">Apply for Plant Variety Rights</h3> </a> </li> <li> <a href="/get-ip/pvr/fees/"> <span class="icon-right-open"></span> <h3 class="title">Plant Variety Rights fees</h3> </a> </li> <li> <a href="/get-ip/pvr/international/"> <span class="icon-right-open"></span> <h3 class="title">International plant variety protection</h3> </a> </li> <li> <a href="/get-ip/pvr/pvr-journal/"> <span class="icon-right-open"></span> <h3 class="title">New Zealand Plant Variety Rights Journal</h3> </a> </li> <li> <a href="/get-ip/pvr/maintain/"> <span class="icon-right-open"></span> <h3 class="title">Maintain a Plant Variety Right </h3> </a> </li> <li> <a href="/get-ip/pvr/pvr-process/"> <span class="icon-right-open"></span> <h3 class="title">PVR process</h3> </a> </li> <li> <a href="/get-ip/pvr/search/"> <span class="icon-right-open"></span> <h3 class="title">Search for existing PVRs</h3> </a> </li> <li> <a href="/get-ip/pvr/technical-questionnaires/"> <span class="icon-right-open"></span> <h3 class="title">Technical questionnaires</h3> </a> </li> <li> <a href="/get-ip/pvr/naming-and-labelling-varieties/"> <span class="icon-right-open"></span> <h3 class="title">Naming and labelling protected varieties</h3> </a> </li> <li> <a href="/get-ip/pvr/infringement/"> <span class="icon-right-open"></span> <h3 class="title">The PVR Office and infringement actions</h3> </a> </li> <li> <a href="/get-ip/pvr/technical-guidance/"> <span class="icon-right-open"></span> <h3 class="title">Technical guidance</h3> </a> </li> <li> <a href="/get-ip/pvr/pvr-act-review/"> <span class="icon-right-open"></span> <h3 class="title">Plant Variety Rights Act Review</h3> </a> </li> <li> <a href="/get-ip/pvr/compulsory-licences-or-sale-orders/"> <span class="icon-right-open"></span> <h3 class="title">Compulsory licences or sale orders</h3> </a> </li> <li> <a href="/get-ip/pvr/maori-plant-varieties-committee/"> <span class="icon-right-open"></span> <h3 class="title">M膩ori Plant Varieties Committee</h3> </a> </li> </ul> </nav>  </div> </div> </div> </div>  <div 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