Bloom Fresh International Limited, a premium fruit-breeding company, says it 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 favor of Bloom Fresh, awarding over €750,000 in damages, costs and penalties against serial infringers already the subject of a court order to remove illegal Bloom Fresh vines last year, according to a news release.
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 unauthorized grapes, triggering criminal referrals, the release says.
In a September 2025 judgment, the court has declared the defendants infringed Bloom Fresh’s plant variety rights and issued a new mandate to destroy any remaining infringing plants and varietal materials. The defendants were also ordered to pay damages.
Bloom Fresh says the total financial impact for the infringers exceeds €750,000 and is comprised of damages, the reimbursement of Bloom Fresh legal and court fees, and any profits the infringers earned from the illegal activity.
This ruling follows other significant actions against the same grower, the release says. In 2024, Bloom Fresh announced the enforced uprooting of thousands of illegal vines in Bari, which it says was one of the largest such removals in Italian agricultural history.
“This landmark judgment sends a crystal-clear signal: Infringement does not pay,” says Josep Estiarte, Bloom Fresh CEO. “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. We will not hesitate to pursue infringers with the full weight of the law, to protect our varieties and our legitimate growers worldwide.”
Bloom Fresh says 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 release says.
“The integrity of our brands, and the trust placed in us by legitimate growers, are paramount,” Estiarte says. “Upholding IP rights is vital not only for Bloom Fresh, 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 and as a founding member of The Breeders’ Alliance is working with retailers, distributors and law enforcement to combat infringement.
The company says it employs extensive market surveillance, DNA testing and legal expertise to ensure compliance and to defend the interests of growers who invest honestly in licensed plantings.
