THE ROLE OF STATE AUTHORITIES IN THE PROTECTION AND ENFORCEMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS TO PLANT VARIETIES

Abstract

This article is devoted to the definition of state authorities which establish the legal regime in the field of protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights to plant varieties. The author defines the powers of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine as the highest body in the system of executive authorities, the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection as the controlling body and the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine as the competent authority which is the main body in the field of protection of intellectual property rights to plant varieties, since it is entrusted with a list of tasks in the field related to protection of rights to plant varieties. The Ukrainian Institute of Plant Variety Expertise is an authorized institution to conduct scientific and technical examination of plant varieties. It is established that the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection is the controlling body in the field of plant variety rights protection and the types of control it exercises are defined. The state body responsible for conducting scientific and technical expertise of plant varieties is the Ukrainian Institute of Plant Variety Expertise, which operates on the basis of the Charter. The issue of problems arising in the course of concluding license agreements for the use of plant varieties is raised. The author analyzes the case law and provides an example of a court decision that addresses infringement of intellectual property rights to plant varieties. The reasons for infringement are often preceded by low awareness of the owners of property rights and rights to distribute plant varieties, since the issue of effective commercialization depends on the stage of granting licenses for the use of the said intellectual property. The article illustrates the example of the Network of Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISC), which operates within the structure of the national patent office – UKRNOVI, conducting educational activities and providing information and advisory support and services on intellectual property protection, commercialization and promotion of innovations in Ukraine and abroad. The list of foreign countries with special patent courts, where cases related to infringement of intellectual property rights are considered, is provided. The issue of launching the High Court of Intellectual Property is considered, since the creation of such a court is aimed at resolving numerous issues in the field of intellectual property rights protection. The article concludes with a general conclusion about the state authorities whose activities are related to the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights to plant varieties and the problems that exist today.