Das Sortenrecht als Gegenstand wissenschaftlicher Auseinandersetzung. Zugleich Besprechung des Handbuchs »Deutsches und europäisches Sortenschutzrecht« von Herbert Leßmann und Gert Würtenberger

The plant variety protection is of utmost importance for both the plant breeders and the farmers. Concerning the necessity of an adequate food supply also the public has a strong interest in an intellectual property right which protects innovative plant varieties. There is, particularly in comparison to patent law, only a marginal discussion on plant variety protection. An exception is the treatise »Deutsches und europäisches Sortenschutzrecht« by Leßmann and Würtenberger. Besides reviewing this work this article outlines the interests which lay the foundation for plant variety protection law. In addition some questions regarding plant variety protection are highlighted.