RE: Siberian patents ?
- To: "s*@egroups.com"
- Subject: RE: [sibrob] Siberian patents ?
- From: J* H*
- Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2000 08:43:06 -0700
- Encoding: 34 TEXT
Good question but no easy answer on why Siberians (or irises in general)
aren't patented....
My guess would be that until recently, irises increased at a reasonable
enough rate that the hybridizer was guaranteed of *some* financial gain
from a new intro for all the time and work involved. If you wanted a
particular cv, you had a limited number of places you could purchase it
until the plant became commonplace.
Patenting of *unique* plants is a headache but does offer the possibility
of the hybridizer making more than pocket change for plants that can
generate millions on the world market.
With the advent of test tube propagation, the daylily hybridizers (and
investors) are beginning to wonder how to protect their introductory
market. Recently, plants selling for around $95.00 in the initial market
have been offered by some large catalogs for $14.95 and there isn't much
that can be done to stop them. Cutting edge cvs aren't likely to sell well
for the hybridizers if it becomes commonplace to find them for pennies
within a year or two someplace else.
At present, most Siberian cvs are readily available from specialty growers
and the large plant markets have been content with selling field raised
plants to the general public (whether or not the photo matches the name).
It's only a matter of time though, till irises are "discovered" and tissue
culture offers a better return than farm raised plants.
Be afraid.... Be very afraid.
Christy Hensler
Newport, WA, USA
http://www.povn.com/rock/
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