A controversy has emerged over the growth and sale of the world's most expensive grape, Ruby Roman, in Korea. Despite claims from Japan that the variety has been leaked without permission, Korea's National Seed Resources assert that there is no legal restriction against its cultivation and sale in the country. Developed in Japan in the late 1990s, Ruby Roman grape seedlings have been transferred to Korean farms since 2007, with current production mainly imported from China. The controversy has led to discussions about variety protection and potential trademark royalties, following the recent invalidation of a business operator's 'Ruby Roman' trademark in Korea.