They Can’t Run, They Can’t Hide: The Court of Bari Enjoins Illegal Grape Production
Bari, Italy – In a landmark decision, the Court of Bari issued a first-of-its-kind injunction forbidding an Italian grape producer from harvesting or selling any table grapes from unauthorized plantings of Sugrathirtyfive variety (AUTUMNCRISP® brand) grapevines. The Sugrathirtyfive grape variety is owned by Sun World International, LLC (“Sun World”). Under the Court’s order, until the infringing vines are removed and replaced, the vineyards are effectively worthless. In this case, Sun World has advanced Plant Breeders’ Rights (PBRs) in Italy using new tools to demonstrate infringement to the Court of Bari, which accepted infringement evidence gathered by drones for the first time and accepted the modern DNA fingerprinting evidence that definitively showed infringement. Fruit from Sun World-developed varieties is marketed globally under various varietal brands including AUTUMNCRISP®. The California-based company has a long-standing business developing and licensing its proprietary plant varieties worldwide, including to Italian farmers, who earn a premium for growing Sun World’s superior varieties. Infringers like the grower in Bari damage legitimate licensed growers by reducing the market value of their fruit, and by failing to follow the quality control measures Sun World requires of its licensees.
According to Sun World’s Vice President of IP and General Counsel, Michael Stimson, “the company will enforce the full extent of its rights against these infringers, seeking to stop illegal production and damages for past infringement.” In another first-of-its-kind ruling, the Court of Bari accepted evidence in the form of photographs of an infringing vineyard taken by a drone operated by a private investigation agency. The resolution of the drone’s photographs was sufficient to discern the distinctive leaf shape and other agronomic features of the vines to demonstrate they were likely unauthorized Sugrathirtyfive plantings. The court deemed the drone evidence compelling enough to issue an ex-parte order granting Sun World access to the infringing plantings, along with a Bailiff and court-appointed expert. Plant material was gathered and analyzed using a set of DNA markers that uniquely identified the vines as the Sugrathirtyfive variety.
The Court of Bari stated clear principles establishing the acceptability of the DNA evidence that the court-appointed expert presented as infringement evidence, which involved a nine DNA marker assay that has been scientifically approved internationally to be reliable. While a DNA marker assay is not required for plant variety registration to obtain a PBR registration, the DNA assay is a reliable identifier of the infringing variety as Sugrathirtyfive, as confirmed by the comparison to the DNA marker profile in the official record maintained by the Ministry of Agriculture of grape varieties grown in Italy.
In a separate case involving breach of a grower’s lease agreement, Sun World obtained a court order for removal of the planted vines. Because Italian courts are willing to issue such orders where warranted, Sun World expects them to issue vine removal orders in cases of PBR infringement as well. Sun World encourages growers in Italy who are interested in planting Sugrathirtyfive green table grapes to obtain a license to plant and propagate Sugrathirtyfive vines and to sell fruit under its authorized AUTUMNCRISP® brand. Licensed growers avoid criminal legal actions and civil liability and are welcome members of the community of grape producers who respect Italian law.
Sun World International LLC is a global variety development and licensing business. Sun World’s mission is to drive the growth of fruit breeding, varietal development, licensing and agricultural technologies. The California-based company has a network of licensed growers and marketers and maintains offices in the United States, Europe, Australia, South America, Israel, North Africa, and South Africa. More information about Sun World is available at www.sun-world.com
