Global fruit breeder BLOOM FRESH has achieved another decisive victory in Italy in the fight against intellectual property infringement.
Following years of litigation, the European court has issued final judgments in favor of BLOOM FRESH, awarding over €750,000 in damages, costs, and penalties against well-known serial infringers who were already the subject of a court order to remove illegal BLOOM FRESH vines last year.
The case began in 2020 with a search warrant that led to a court-ordered seizure and injunction. However, the defendants repeatedly breached the order by selling unauthorized grapes, triggering criminal referrals.
In a September 2025 decision, the court declared that the defendants infringed BLOOM FRESH’s plant variety rights and, on top of issuing a new mandate to destroy any remaining infringing plants and varietal materials, ordered them to pay substantial damages.
The total financial impact for the infringers exceeds €750,000. This comprises damages and the reimbursement of BLOOM FRESH's legal and court fees, as well as the return to BLOOM FRESH of any profits they earned from the illegal activity.
This ruling follows other significant actions against the same grower. In 2024, BLOOM FRESH announced the forced uprooting of thousands of illegal vines in Bari—one of the largest removals in Italian agricultural history.
Josep Estiarte, CEO at BLOOM FRESH, said the landmark decision "sends a crystal-clear signal: infringement does not pay."
"With payments awarded now exceeding three quarters of a million euros, coupled with the destruction of illegal vines and publication orders, the Italian courts have shown that intellectual property rights in agriculture are real, enforceable, and carry serious consequences," he emphasized. "We will not hesitate to pursue infringers with the full weight of the law, to protect our varieties and our legitimate growers worldwide."
This outcome also follows failed attempts by associates of the defendants to undermine breeders’ rights through unsuccessful antitrust proceedings. Courts have consistently rejected such tactics, affirming the fundamental role of intellectual property in safeguarding innovation, investment, and fair competition in the agricultural sector.
Estiarte said that "upholding IP rights is vital not only for BLOOM FRESH, but for the entire agricultural community." He stressed that the decision reinforces the framework that ensures fairness, quality, and innovation across the fruit industry.
BLOOM FRESH continues to lead global enforcement efforts in its own right, and as a founding member of The Breeders’ Alliance, it is working with retailers, distributors, and law enforcement to combat infringement. The company employs extensive market surveillance, cutting-edge DNA testing, and legal expertise to ensure compliance and to defend the interests of growers who invest honestly in licensed plantings.
*Photos courtesy of BLOOM FRESH
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