North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["tanis cuff" <tanistanis@hotmail.com>]

I think the previous chats on this topic have answered the question of how 
to keep a nice chance-seedling apple (or other plant) in the public domain.  
"Make it as public as possible."

The more important question is HOW to do this, and do it widely & quickly 
enough to foil an unscrupulous grower who might try to claim it and patent 
it.  Research plus NAFEXrs' & others' suggestions helped me compile these:

1)  I should ask managers/ curators of public collections to accept and 
register at least a detailed description of the apple fruit & tree, 
including whatever documentation can be gathered from a DNA test, or-- 
ideally-- if they can accept scionwood or a grafted whip for adding to their 
live collection;

2)  I should ask [but, WHO DO I ASK?] if the NAFEXlist and the 'Pomona' can 
publish the detailed description of apple fruit & tree;

3)  I should offer scions or grafts to NAFEXrs who are willing to sign a 
"promise to share" (opposite of a "non-propagation agreeement"), and are 
willing to send me the name & address of all who they share scions with;

4)  apply for a patent but make clear it has been publicized & distributed 
so much that it won't qualify, but this way it will still be shown to exist 
and not be patentable by anyone else. [Can anyone confirm that when a plant 
patent is denied, the application stays on file?]

Each of this has own advantages and disadvantages, but I worry most about 
#2.  I don't want to cause the list or the magazine to suddenly be asked to 
find the editors & time & money to be the registry for all the nice 
chance-seedling which we all have found!

Thanks again to all who offered ideas.  And please/thanks for any more 
ideas!

Tanis Cuff, south-central WI, where we got a stretch of beautiful weather 
after I rushed around madly preparing for winter!

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