Cultivar is abbreviated cv. Acer platanoides cv. Introduced plants can be patented. For 17 years after the date indicated on the patent, recently extended to 20 years, only the patent holder may commercially raise or sell a patented plant. Others may do so through license or royalty agreements with the patent holder.
Trademarks offer another, and simpler, form of protection.
The name of a plant can be trademarked and such names cannot be used as a name for any other plant or product. However, laws governing their usage may vary from state to state. A cultivar name is considered descriptive of the plant, and it may be registered with the International Code of Nomenclature. A trademark name cannot be used in the Code of Nomenclature. Thus, a unique or novel name must be created in addition to the cultivar name to establish a trademark.