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PUBLIC LAW 91-577-DEC. 24, 1970

[84 STAT.

Public Law 91-577 December 24, 1970

[S.3070]

Plant Variety Protection Act.

AN ACT

TQ encourage the development of novel varieties of sexually reproduced plants and to make them available to the public, providing protection available to those who breed, develop, or discover them, and thereby promoting progress in agriculture in the public interest.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rejwesentatives United States of America in Congress assembled,

of the

INDEX Section TITLE I—Plant Variety Protection Office 1 TITLE II—Protectability of Plant Varieties and Certificates-of Protection, 41 TITLE III—Plant Variety Protection and Rights 101

TITLE I—PLANT VARIETY PROTECTION OFFICE Chapter

Section

1. Organization and Publications 2. Legal Provisions as to the Plant Variety Protection Office 3. Plant Variety Protection Fees

1 21 31

Chapter 1.—ORGANIZATION A N D PUBLICATIONS Section 1. Establishment. There is hereby established in the Department of Agriculture a bureau to be known as the Plant Variety Protection Office, which shall have the functions set forth in this Act. Sec. 2. SeaL The Plant Variety Protection Office shall have a seal with which documents and certificates evidencing plant variety protection shall be authenticated. Sec. 3. Organization. The organization of the Plant Variety Protection Office shall, except as provided herein, be determined by the Secretary of Agriculture (hereinafter called the Secretary]. The office shall devote itself substantially exclusively to the administration of this Act. Sec. 4. Restrictions on Employees as to Interest in Plant Variety Protection. Employees of the Plant Variety Protection Office shall be ineligible during the periods of their employment, to apply for plant variety protection and to acquire directly or indirectly, except by inheritance or bequest, any right or interest m any matters before that office. This section Shall not apply to members of the Plant Variety Protection Board who are not otherwise employees of the Plant Variety Protection Office. Sec. 5. Bond of Employees. Such employees as the Secretary designates, before entering upon their duties, ^ a l l severally give bond, with sureties, in sums prescribed by the Secretary, conditioned for the faithful discharge of their respective duties and that they shall render to the proper officers of the Treasury a true account of all money received by virtue of their offices. Sec. 6. Regulations. The Secretary may establish regulations, not inconsistent with law, for the conduct of proceedings in the Plant Variety Protection Office after consultations with the Plant Variety Protection Board.

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