Finn, C.E., B.C. Strik, T.A. Mackey, J.F. Hancock, J. Lee, and R.R. Martin. 2016. ‘Baby Blues’ highbush blueberry. HortScience 51:761–765.
In April 2015, a plant patent application (14/545,561) was filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to name the USDA–ARS blueberry select ORUS 10-1 as ‘Baby Blues’.
At the time of publication in June 2016, the authors were not aware of any potentially similar or confusing names. However, on 1 Sept. 2016, they were notified by the USPTO that they believed the name was too similar to a groundcover, ornamental blueberry being sold as ‘Baby Blue’.
In response to their request, the authors reluctantly changed the name to ‘Mini Blues’ and the patent application went forward under the same patent application number and was accepted by the USPTO and is patent pending.