I don’t know how it happened

danielsumner · #1 10/03/12, 06:33 PM

I might be in deep DoDo. I bought this little Cherry Tomato plant at Lowes this spring. I don’t remember the variety, but the plant has been a huge producer and just keeps on giving. I do remember this tag on the plant when I bought it. “Illegal to propagate”. Today I decided to trim up the gangly plant. Somehow, I don’t know how it happened; it seems the cuttings impaled themselves into several clay pots of soil that just happened to be sitting nearby. This afternoon a Helicopter flew over the house and paused for a bit. I did nothing wrong, it wasn't my fault that the cuttings flung themselves into the clay pots. Anyone willing to help me hide my stash from the PoPo.

tinknal · #2 10/03/12, 06:36 PM

"Illegal to propagate"????? That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard.

Plowpoint · #3 10/03/12, 06:47 PM

You sound like my Great Grandfather.

He was a potato farmer and as everyone knows, in order to get potatoes you simply cut up some potatoes and plant what sprouts. Everyone also knows that it is illegal to buy seed potatoes and sell them as potatoes, but I never said my Great Grandfather was an honest man.

Anyway he got caught and at that time it was a major crime. They took him to court and it was THE biggest court proceedings that existed at that time. The Prosecutor thought he had him dead to rights and yelled out, "Is this, or is this not your signature on this sales receipt for the seed potatoes in question Mr. Plowpoint?"

My Great Grandfather took out his glasses, took his sweet time, acted as though he was looking the receipt over very carefully and then said, "Why it is mighty hard to tell. An X all looks the same don't they?"

He was acquitted of his so called crime.

My Great Grandfather signed everything with an X, which is a legal signature. Now I read about this in one of his diaries...you see, the old crafty guy could write, and write very well...when he wanted too.

AnnieinBC · #4 10/03/12, 07:40 PM

Daniel, you need to delete this thread of yours. You know "they" watch what we write, right?

Alice In TX/MO · #5 10/03/12, 07:42 PM

I bet you tear the tags off your mattress, too.

sisterpine · #6 10/03/12, 07:46 PM

Speaking of mattresses...I tore the tag off mine and now cannot tell what make and model it is? I wanted to ask a question about it but nope....guess I will have to scrounge around for the darned receipt. I'll wait in line behind tomatoe person.

Pony · #7 10/03/12, 08:04 PM

Tsk, tsk, tsk... LOL!

Awnry Abe · #8 10/03/12, 08:23 PM

Well, I would say that you didn't propogate, but the plant itself propagated itself. I would toss the original in the slammer just to send a message to the rest.

meanwhile · #9 10/03/12, 09:06 PM

I have never seen such a tag? Illegal to propagate? How in the heck do they think that can be enforced? We grow everything from seeds here. But, who puts tags like that on a plant?

bugstabber · #10 10/03/12, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meanwhile

I have never seen such a tag? Illegal to propagate? How in the heck do they think that can be enforced? We grow everything from seeds here. But, who puts tags like that on a plant?

Monsanto? LOL

Fair Light · #11 10/03/12, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meanwhile

I have never seen such a tag? Illegal to propagate? How in the heck do they think that can be enforced? We grow everything from seeds here. But, who puts tags like that on a plant?

All patented plants carry this label...who does it? many plant developers
from "Proven Winners"...."Knock out Roses".....etc etc....I have never heard
of anyone getting in trouble for this though...but they are protected with a
patent...as for me??? Well....I plead the 5th....

Prismseed · #12 10/04/12, 06:36 AM

Tomato plants have the same heat signature as marijuana plants. One of the methods of finding pot fields is a fly over heat screening.

Alice In TX/MO · #13 10/04/12, 06:52 AM

I don’t know how it happened - Homesteading Questions

brosil · #14 10/04/12, 07:27 AM

I talked with a patent attorney once and he said the reason they used to have little models of machinery was so people could come in and copy the machines FOR THEIR OWN USE. They couldn't sell the device but could use it for themselves. As long as you don't sell the tomatoes or the plants, you should be legal.

Bret · #15 10/04/12, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

I bet you tear the tags off your mattress, too.

My mind so went there. What is wrong with my mind. Why won't it stop.

sisterpine · #16 10/04/12, 09:10 AM

Last time I planted my mattress (gosh that was eons ago LOL) I found that the tag interfered with hoe(ing) between the rows. Which is why I removed it in the first place. I did not realize it was a patent...really I did'nt. Next time I will plant in a bucket so the roots do not travel and breed with other patented plants...would that help?

ninny · #17 10/04/12, 10:23 AM

You just made the No-Fly list and probably other lists of terrorists. You should be expecting a visit from men in black any day now. Need to get your affairs in order as you probably won't be heard from again.

.

simi-steading · #18 10/04/12, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brosil

I talked with a patent attorney once and he said the reason they used to have little models of machinery was so people could come in and copy the machines FOR THEIR OWN USE. They couldn't sell the device but could use it for themselves. As long as you don't sell the tomatoes or the plants, you should be legal.

I think that attorney was pulling your leg. I work for a patent firm (not an attorney) but I do know about the models. There'a a couple here in this office and they are pretty cool..

Anyway, the reason was, one, it was required by the patent office in their early years, and also because a lot of inventors didn't have the skills to describe their invention in writing or able to draw it out. They could however build a working model of it to show what it was, and how it worked.

True, you can copy a patented item for your personal use, but most times, it's just easier to buy the real thing.

I've always wanted to find a model for myself, but when you do, WOW are they expensive. Too many patent attorneys with a lot more money than me want them worse..

danielsumner · #19 10/04/12, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

I bet you tear the tags off your mattress, too.

When I was a wee little Daniel my Mom brought new seats and backs for the kitchen chairs (anyone else remember that you could buy them and they just screwed down?) I was a brainy little tyke who learned (basically taught myself) to read. I remember crawling under the chairs and reading "do not remove under penalty of law". Don't know what got into me, I went and got Mother's pinking shears and very neatly snipped the tags off. Afterwards I started to think about what I had done. I remember I buried the tags in the backyard and I hid in the closet for the rest of the day. I was the best behaved kid in the area for the rest of the week until my little mind attached it's self to something else. You know after reading this I might need therapy.

unioncreek · #20 10/04/12, 01:38 PM

Patenting plants has been around for a long time especially in flowers and trees. It's called patent infringement if you get caught, I wouldn't go around telling people your doing this.

Bob