Bloom Fresh awarded $573,000 in damages in landmark PVR infringement case in China

Leading table grape breeder Bloom Fresh just obtained a big legal victory in China. The ruling is a first‑instance judgment confirming third-party infringement of its Plant Variety Rights (PVR) for its proprietary grape variety IFG Six, marketed globally as Sweet Sapphire™. 

This marks a major milestone in the company’s sustained efforts to combat unauthorized production and commercialization of its protected varieties.

The defendants were found to have illegally produced, propagated, promoted, and sold the IFG Six variety. They were also found to have handled and stored propagation materials of the cultivar for reproductive purposes. 

The court awarded approximately $573,000 in damages, which, the company said in a statement, is notable in the history of PVR infringement cases in China. 

“This substantial award sets an important industry precedent and reflects the increasing emphasis Chinese courts place on protecting PVRs,” read the press release.

Bloom Fresh’s goal of a lawful value chain

This ruling came shortly after the close of the six-month application window for the company’s IFG Six Legalization Program in China, which provides unauthorized growers in China an opportunity to avoid litigation and gain access to the company's world‑class technical, quality, and marketing support. 

“Bloom Fresh is committed to working with the Chinese fresh produce industry to support its growth and leverage our portfolio of world-class fruit varieties,” said Campbell Banfield, General Manager for the firm in China, Australia, and Southeast Asia. “As part of this commitment, we will continue to relentlessly pursue infringers who make it more difficult for legitimate growers to ensure the quality and integrity of their fruit.”

While the case is progressing through the judicial process, the breeder remains committed to fostering a sustainable and lawful value chain—supporting growers, protecting consumers, and contributing to the long‑term development of a productive and accessible fruit industry.

*All images courtesy of Bloom Fresh.

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