Bloom Fresh International Limited has achieved another decisive victory in Italy in the fight against intellectual property infringement. Following years of litigation, the Court has issued final judgments in favour of the company, 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 order that led to a court-ordered seizure and injunction in 2022, but the defendants repeatedly breached the order by selling unauthorised grapes, triggering criminal referrals. Now, in a September 2025 judgment, the Court has declared that the defendants infringed the company'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 of damages, the reimbursement of Bloom Fresh legal and court fees and the infringers have been forced to return to the company any profits they earned from the illegal activity.
© Bloom Fresh
This ruling follows other significant actions against the same grower. In 2024, the company announced the enforced uprooting of thousands of illegal vines in Bari – one of the largest such removals in Italian agricultural history.
"This landmark judgment 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," said Josep Estiarte, CEO Bloom Fresh. "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 agriculture.
"The integrity of our brands, and the trust placed in us by legitimate growers, are paramount," said Estiarte. "Upholding IP rights is vital not only for the company but for the entire agricultural community. This decision strengthens 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 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.
For more information:
Marie-Anne de Bejarry
Bloom Fresh
[email protected]
www.bloomfreshglobal.com