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HR 121 109th Congress House Commerce Agriculture and Food Intellectual property Inventions Patents Plant breeding Public Lands and Natural Resources Trees

Plant Breeders Equity Act of 2005

Introduced: January 4, 2005 Introduced by: Issa, Darrell Republican · California See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 109th Congress ended
It never became law before the 109th Congress (2005–2006) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 2, 2005
Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property.
Jan 4, 2005
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jan 4, 2005
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Plant Breeders Equity Act of 2005 - Amends Federal patent law to declare that no plant patent application shall be denied, nor shall any issued plant patent be invalidated, on the grounds that the invention was sold or otherwise disposed of.

Provides for an exception if such invention was sold or disposed of, by or with the consent of the inventor or discoverer for purposes of exploitation of the invention: (1) to other persons in the United States more than one year prior to the date of the application for patent; (2) to other persons in a foreign country more than four years prior to such date; or (3) in the case of a tree or vine, to other persons in a foreign country more than six years prior to such date.

Declares that the plant patent applies equally to any plant that is not clearly distinguishable from a protected plant.

What's happening now March 2, 2005

Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 121: Plant Breeders Equity Act of 2005. 109th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-121/
MLA
"H.R. 121: Plant Breeders Equity Act of 2005." 109th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-121/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 121, 109th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-121/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 121: Plant Breeders Equity Act of 2005](https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-121/)
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