They really only have control over patented varieties and the new introductions. If they aren't patented, the only control they can exercise is in the names. Remember all the "Aus" varieties in the Vintage catalog and others? Those were the varieties Hortico brought into the North American market and sold prior to Austin having North American representation. They had released them into the market making them unpatentable by the time Austin had American and Canadian agents. So, they trademarked the fancy names. Tamora, Heritage and many others could be sold, but only as "Austamora", "Ausblush", etc. unless you paid for the license to legally use the fancy names. So, anything patented and all the new introductions can be held closely, but anything outside of those protections is fair game, IF anyone wants to sell them. It used to be Austin policed those older types by refusing to allow you a contract or new varieties if you sold the old ones. Now, they won't even have that leverage. I'm wondering just how "damaging" nurseries will find this? Pickering, Arena and others dropped Austin roses years ago because they were such an awful company to deal with. They wanted outrageous amounts of money for their licenses and royalties and those earlier nurseries stated they felt they were saving money by NOT offering their roses. Let's see just how damaging not having to deal with them is going to turn out to be.