MEDIA ADVISORY AUGUST 25, 1997 CONTACT: Richard Maulsby Lisa-Joy Zgorski (703)305-8341 Number: 97-16 MILESTONE: USPTO TO ISSUE PLANT PATENT 10,000 WASHINGTON, DC -- The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office will issue the 10,000th Plant Patent to Oglevee Ltd. Plant Breeder David Lemon of California during a press conference at the U.S. Botanical Gardens, in which Lemon will plant his new geranium, "Lois." Bruce A. Lehman, Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks, will offer remarks. The Plant Patent Act of 1930 was enacted to afford intellectual property protection to inventors who asexually reproduce new varieties of plants. Whether trees that bear more or hybrid fruit, plants that are more resilient to disease, medicinal herbs or ascetically pleasing flowers, the United States--and in fact the world--reaps many benefits derived from advances in plant technology. EVENT: Press Conference honoring issuance of the 10,000th Plant Patent and Exhibit displaying innovative new plants DATE: Tuesday, August 26, 1997 TIME: 10:00 a.m. A reception will follow. PLACE: U. S. Botanical Gardens, Capitol Hill, Washington, DC (near Federal Center, SW) SPONSOR: U.S. Department of Commerce, Patent and Trademark Office This will be one of the last events at the U.S. Botanical Gardens in a couple of years, as it will be closed for renovations starting September 2, 1997. ###