Table grape breeder International Fruit Genetics, LLC (IFG), Bakersfield, Calif., has been working with the Peruvian authorities of the National Institute of the Defense of Competition and Intellectual Property Protection (INDECOPI) and the National Institute of Agrarian Innovation (INIA) in the city of Ica, to identify properties where there is unauthorized planting, cultivating or illegal collecting and selling of the IFG’s protected table grape varieties, according to a release.
Among the IFG table grape varieties protected by the Peruvian National Registry of Protected Plant Varieties are Sweet Globe, Cotton Candy, Sweet Sapphire, and Jack’s Salute, among others, which are duly registered as trademarks in the U.S. and elsewhere.
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As a result of a recent inspection in the Santiago District, the property owner chose to burn all the plants, eliminating the evidence and evading the consequences of the infringement, said the release.
“It is IFG’s policy to spare no time and effort to combat possible activities that violate its rights and safeguard its commercial interests, as well as those of its licensees,” said IFG CEO Andy Higgins in a release.
In its capacity as titleholder of the breeder’s rights over the various protected grape varieties in Peru, IFG is entitled to prevent or initiate legal actions against third parties who, without IFG’s consent, carry out acts that are intended to produce, reproduce, as well as sell, market or import the genetic material or fruits from the varieties. Possible repercussions for said actions may result in fines, closure of establishments, destruction of the infringing material, and compensation for damages caused, according to the release.
“We will be vigilant and continue to take the necessary actions in provinces around Peru — and throughout the world — in defense of our rights,” added Higgins.
