Shine Muscat and Strawberries Put Japan's Agricultural IP System Under the Spotlight For decades, Japan has built a global reputation for developing premium fruit and vegetable varieties that command strong consumer demand and premium prices. From luxury grapes to highly prized strawberries, the country's breeding programmes have produced some of the most recognisable names in horticulture. Yet as these varieties have gained international popularity, protecting the intellectu

In March 2026, the Supreme People’s Court (SPC) of China released its sixth batch of “Top 10 Typical Cases,” signalling a major shift in the judicial enforcement of plant variety rights (PVR). These cases collectively demonstrate the evolution of China’s PVR regime toward a more robust, deterrence-driven, and enforcement-oriented framework that aligns with broader intellectual property (IP) protection trends. A key development is the increased use of punitive damages, marking

The APSA–SIPI Seed Associations Meeting was convened on 24 April 2026 in Bali, Indonesia, bringing together national seed associations, industry leaders, and experts from across the Asia-Pacific region for a focused dialogue on strengthening collaboration and addressing the growing threat of illegal seed practices (ISPs) across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. The meeting highlighted that ISPs, including counterfeiting, unauthorised multiplication, fraudulent labelling, and th