'Piracy is a crime!' It was written on the red stamp that appeared on the screen while a menacing voice uttered the message once again clearly and a tad ominously at the start of each videocassette or DVD. Video cassettes and DVDs are barely mentioned today, but piracy remains a focus and a concern, also in the case of chrysanthemums.
Chrysanthemum varieties do not come into being by themselves. They are the result of a long, technical, creative, and intellectual process. The energy, time, and resources that go into them are protected internationally by breeders' rights and patents. "These recognize Gediflora as a breeder and give us the clout to clearly define our intellectual property rights when someone else sells our chrysanthemum varieties without permission. And what applies to chrysanthemums applies equally well to breeders' rights: they don't just magically appear," the team explains.
DUS RHS
Plant breeders' rights are granted at the end of the procedure in which the breeder – among other things – draws up a description of the variety and often also commissions a DUS study into the distinctness, uniformity, and stability of the new chrysanthemum variety.
"At Gediflora, we describe new chrysanthemum varieties extremely accurately and thoroughly, using the color charts of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). This officially records the color of the flower bud, the color of the stem, and the color of the open flowers. The RHS standard is recognized worldwide by the official testing centers responsible for awarding the DUS certificate. In America, we also add the color of the young and old flower, both at the top and bottom of the petals (ray florets), when we apply for a Plant Patent there," the Gediflora team explains.
For more information:
Gediflora
Schierveldestraat 14
B-8840 Oostnieuwkerke, Belgium
Tel.: +32 (0)51 26 88 88
info@gediflora.be
www.gediflora.be