7 USC § 2423 - Joint breeders

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t7/s2423"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "7 USC § 2423 - Joint breeders"
title_number: 7
title_name: "AGRICULTURE"
section_number: "2423"
section_name: "Joint breeders"
chapter_number: 57
chapter_name: "PLANT VARIETY PROTECTION"
subchapter_number: "II"
subchapter_name: "PROTECTABILITY OF PLANT VARIETIES AND CERTIFICATES OF PROTECTION"
part_number: "E"
part_name: "Applications; Form; Who May File; Relating Back; Confidentiality"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 91–577, title II, § 53, Dec. 24, 1970, 84 Stat. 1548; Pub. L. 103–349, § 13(g), Oct. 6, 1994, 108 Stat. 3143.)"
---


# § 2423. Joint breeders

**(a)** When two or more persons are the breeders, one person (or the successor of the person) may apply, naming the others.

**(b)** The Secretary, after such notice as the Secretary may prescribe, may issue a certificate of plant variety protection to the applicant and such of the other breeders (or their successors in interest) as may have subsequently joined in the application.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 91–577, title II, § 53, Dec. 24, 1970, 84 Stat. 1548; Pub. L. 103–349, § 13(g), Oct. 6, 1994, 108 Stat. 3143.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1994—Subsec. (a). , substituted “one person (or the successor of the person)” for “one (or his successor)”.

Subsec. (b). , substituted “the Secretary” for “he” before “may”.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1994 Amendment

Amendment by  effective 180 days after , see , set out as a note under .