Luribay Business Inc, the exclusive holder of the Community Plant Variety Rights for the ACS V 01 grape, also known as Blanc Seedless, which is marketed under the Sweeta® and Pristine® brands, has recently been informed that Greek producers have illegally and without authorization obtained and reproduced original plant material of the Blanc Seedless variety.
“There’s a high possibility that Greek exporters or resellers/traders intend to introduce illegally produced table grapes of this variety into Western European supermarkets, probably disguised as Thomson or Sultanina grapes or mixed with these or other varieties.”
Luribay stated that it had only authorized Macedonyan Vineyards in Greece to produce its grapes and that at this stage this company has no production of grapes and therefore does not market products.
“Under these conditions, any fruit of this variety received from Greece in this period has been obtained illegally. Thus, Luribay requests that buyers don’t accept and market any Greek table grapes bearing the names ACS V 01, Blanc Seedless, Sweeta, or Pristine that have not been received directly from the only authorized company in Greece, Macedonyan Vineyards.”
The company also asks buyers “to verify and confirm directly and formally with the suppliers of Greek grapes that they do not receive or sell any illegal white varieties from them.”
“Any unauthorized import, export, propagation, reproduction, conditioning for propagation, use, sale, sale offer, marketing, or any transfer of possession of plants, plant material, and harvested material of the Blanc Seedless variety constitutes an infringement of Luribay’s legally registered plant variety rights.”
Similarly, “the unauthorized marketing of the Blanc Seedless variety under the Blanc Seedless denomination or even labeled under another variety name constitutes an infringement of plant breeders’ rights. Similarly, any marketing under the Sweeta and Pristine brands also constitutes an infringement of registered trademarks.”
Luribay also stated that it regularly monitors the European market to detect possible infringements. “If you have any doubts or suspicions that the grapes offered to you by a supplier may infringe the intellectual property rights listed above, Luribay is at your disposal to help you determine if they do.”
Source: Fresh Plaza
