Plant
Sugar maple
15 US plant patents name this plant. 10 have expired, so those cultivars are free to propagate and sell. The next of the 5 still protected comes off patent on February 6, 2028.
Still under patent — 5 cultivars
Soonest to come off patent first. You may not propagate these for sale until the date shown.
- SandersvillePP19807Sugar maple tree named ‘Sandersville’UNDER PATENTFebruary 6, 2028
- JFS-KW8PP22034Sugar maple tree named ‘JFS-KW8’UNDER PATENTApril 2, 2030
- JFS-Caddo2PP23361Sugar maple tree named ‘JFS-Caddo2’UNDER PATENTApril 7, 2031
- WHIT XLVPP23957Sugar maple tree named ‘WHIT XLV’UNDER PATENTSeptember 20, 2031
- GallatinPP34294Sugar maple tree named ‘Gallatin’UNDER PATENTJune 28, 2041
Already in the public domain — 10 cultivars
Most recently freed first. Anyone may propagate and sell these plants — though the name it is sold under may still be a live trademark.
- BAKrisePP16574Sugar maple tree named ‘BAKrise’PUBLIC DOMAINNovember 18, 2024
- BAKharlPP16733Sugar maple tree named ‘BAKharl’PUBLIC DOMAINJune 28, 2024
- Hawkersmith 1PP16815Sugar maple named ‘Hawkersmith 1’PUBLIC DOMAINAugust 29, 2022
- BailstaPP11119Sugar maple tree named `Bailsta`PUBLIC DOMAINFebruary 3, 2018
- Barrett ColePP10590Sugar maple `Barrett Cole`PUBLIC DOMAINJanuary 10, 2017
- Flax Mill MajestyPP5273Sugar maple named Flax Mill MajestyPUBLIC DOMAINMarch 8, 2002
- CommemorationPP5079Sugar maple tree named CommemorationPUBLIC DOMAINNovember 5, 2001
- LegacyPP4979Sugar maple tree named LegacyPUBLIC DOMAINMarch 18, 2001
- Sugar maplePP4534PUBLIC DOMAINAugust 21, 1998
- Sugar maplePP4654PUBLIC DOMAINAugust 21, 1998
Botanically this is Acer. A patent expiring frees the plant, and its cultivar name with it — cultivar names cannot be trademarked. Any brand name it is sold under is a separate thing and may still be owned.