As best I can tell, it becomes available for scion exchanging some time this year. I looked through the patent information but couldn't tell when it expires.

Dave, thanks for bringing some, I'm hooked, they are phenomenal keepers, and I've got to figure out where to snick in a bud graft.

mh

According to my calculations: June 2nd, maybe June 1st. It was filed June 02, 1993 and good for 20 years.

Thanks. I didn't know if the date it was filed effectively became the date it was approved.

mh

The patent number is 9392 and is dated 5th December 1995, although it was filed June 2nd 1993 (as jafarj said). I would have thought the patent expiry would be based on the patent date not the file date - but I don't know.

Because patents exist solely to make development worthwhile, I'm sure the 20 years starts on the later date. And HOS is very good about not letting us trade patented plants at the scion exchanges.

http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/plant/

"A plant patent expires 20 years from the filing date of the patent application. As with utility applications, when the plant patent expires, the subject matter of the patent becomes public domain."