IIRC, the patent holders were working at the UCR, and perhaps it was assigned to UCR and they made exclusive arrangements with Future Fruit, LLC which dictated the best way of maximizing the patent rights.

Well, this generally comes to double edged situation. We know that University of California is funded in part by the tax payers. We also know that all of the Republican administrations have been cutting the funding to Universities, and only some instances, the Democratic administrators as well.

We also know that the universities are great at research, at least I know several technological breakthroughs from them. There are funding cuts left and right, and that included, mind you, our favorite Citrus Germplasms nation wide.

So the University argued that at least, they need to earn some money to help in the funding of their existence, and that is done through patenting and paying royalties to the University. This is really perfectly fine with me.

The only thing that I can't really reconcile is the current arrangement with Future Fruit, LLC. How could the University make such arrangement to the exclusion of the general public? We are willing to pay royalties to the University, and since the university is publicly funded in part, it should not exclude the general public from accessing such technologies.

The arrangement with Future Fruit, LLC is that you can only grow Red Nules if you are contract growing with them. You cannot sell your fruits to anyone else, except to sell them back to Future Fruit, LLC! In my opinion, knowing that the patent holders were publicly funded in part of their existence within the university, this is a very unethical royalty arrangement ever concocted. This would change my opinion about Universities having royalty arrangements according to their whims.

Do the Red Nules have seed? If so, seems the growers on this forum only need a few to create a public breed! Please let me know if anyone finds seed for one of these.

I was thinking the same thing as reversethong... if I ever see the fruit, I'll give it a try. I'm not a big mandarin-eater, but it's the principle of the thing.

In reality, if one wants some bud wood of Red Nules, it would be quite easy to obtain, especially if you lived near a grower(not legal, but quite easy). I know of NO variety that was ever successfully kept from getting out into the public, no matter how hard they tried. . - Millet (1,208)

I would have to figure it would eventually make it's way out to the general public via the black market but I agree entirely with JoeReal about public funding and this patent case. I guess everyone needs to make money off of their own creativity (or possibly luck in this case) but patent laws can be rediculous and a hinderance to competition/capitalism. I have no problem paying the UCR a few bucks for newer patented varieties (G.N., Tango, ect.) but at least that money goes back to the university and I actually own that tree and the fruit that comes off of it.

I'd love to get a red nules some day but I'll be damned if future fruit ever sees a dime from me for it.

Joe

To illustrate the profit that royalties can generated, just look at the money the University of Minnesota has made from its Honey Crisp apple. The royalty from each tree returns $1.35 to the University, and many many millions have been sold the world over. All patent rights expire, and in case of the Honey Crisp apple, the University's patent expired in 2008. - Millet (1,207-)

Are they studying the Red Nules here?

http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=13965876[img][/img]

I have a pigmented mandarine, Citrus reticulata 'Trabut'. I hope I could have fruit next year.

I have never heard of a Mandarin called a "Trabut". Trabut must be a local French name. As far as citrus goes, Louis Charles Trabut was a botanist famous mainly his work with the Clementine mandarin. But then is there a pigmented Clementine? - Millet (1,169-)

This mandarin come from INRA in Corse Station, and they have this name...I have no others informations.

Have a look here :
http://www.fruitiers.net/fiche.php?NumFiche=1823

It tates very good ( like a classic clementine)

The Trabut mandarin certainly has a thick rind. - Millet (1,152-)

I will say it when I will have fruits.
Do you know "Strawberry Tangor"? A cross between Blood Orange and Tangerine. It seems to be a blood tangor.