The intellectual property right that protects new plant varieties developed by breeders is called Plant Breeders’ Rights (PBR) , also known as Plant Variety Rights (PVR) , a sui generis form of IP specifically designed for plant varieties.

Quick Scoop

  • New plant varieties are not usually protected by ordinary copyright or trademarks, but by a special right: Plant Breeders’ Rights / Plant Variety Rights.
  • PBR/PVR give the breeder exclusive control over propagating material (seeds, cuttings, tubers, tissue culture) and often harvested material (fruits, flowers, foliage) of the protected variety for a set term (around 20–25 years in many systems).
  • This system is based internationally on the UPOV Convention , which frames plant variety protection as a distinct intellectual property right—the breeder’s right.

In one line for exams

New plant varieties developed by breeders are protected by Plant Breeders’ Rights (Plant Variety Rights) , a sui generis form of intellectual property created for plant varieties.

Mini breakdown (why not “patent”?)

  • Many countries do allow plant-related patents, but:
    • The standard IPR name for new plant varieties is PBR/PVR.
* Patents usually protect specific biotechnological inventions, while PBR/PVR protect the **variety as such** under special criteria (distinctness, uniformity, stability, novelty).

So if your question is:

“Which IPR protects new plant varieties developed by breeders?”

The expected, precise answer is: Plant Breeders’ Rights (Plant Variety Rights) under the UPOV-type plant variety protection system.

TL;DR: The correct IPR name is Plant Breeders’ Rights / Plant Variety Rights , a sui generis plant variety protection right, not ordinary patent or copyright.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.