Improved crop varieties that increase agricultural productivity contribute to social welfare by improving the economic basis of food production, the sustainability of agricultural production, protecting fragile and natural habitats, health, and nutrition. As PVP and germplasm utility patents expire, comparisons of molecular marker profiles coupled with agronomic and pedigree information available in the patents and PVPs can provide an initial basis to help determine usage. Considerations for approaches to usage will be discussed. Pedigree data obtained from PVPs and patents will be examined to provide evidence with respect to trends in germplasm diversity in the US corn germplasm pool.