What does a plant patent protect?

A plant patent specifically protects the asexual reproduction of distinct and new varieties of plants. This means that if a plant has been developed through methods such as grafting, budding, or other means that do not involve seeds, and if the plant is new and distinct from others, the inventor can obtain a plant patent. This legal protection allows the inventor exclusive rights to the propagation of that plant for a certain period, typically 20 years. The protection ensures that the inventor can control the sale and reproduction of the plant, thereby incentivizing innovation in horticulture and agriculture.

The other options pertain to different aspects of intellectual property: machines are covered under utility patents, ornamental designs fall under design patents, and literary and dramatic works are protected by copyright law. Each type of intellectual property has distinct criteria and protections tailored to the nature of the innovation or creation, which is why the answer focused on plant patents is specific to the reproduction of plant varieties.