Quote:
Originally Posted by Fred Hempel
DNA fingerprinting is now available and cheap, and this is one reason I doubt that the "big companies" currently steal varieties, rename them, and claim they are hybrids.
It is just too easy to prove that they did it. Plus, it would require a company conspiracy to steal an OP variety and re-name it, which would also increase the risk even more. The company can't assume that all folks in the production chain would go along, without blowing the whistle.
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This is probably the key to fair compensation. If someone copies an obscure piece of music and renames it, fans of the original will quickly find it - and it is easy to show the legal system that it is a copy. When USB devices for DNA analysis are widespread, tomato fans will be able to spot copies and report them. Protection along the lines of copyrights would probably make sense: people can make copies (save seeds) for personal use, but for commercial reproduction a license is required.
Dave