Upload
rory
View
28
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Enforcement of PVRs in the Ornamental Sector. Forum Conference on IP Protection for Plant Innovation Amsterdam, 18 April 2008 TJEERD F.W. OVERDIJK Attorney-at-law Vondst Advocaten. Outline. Enforcement regimes: EU and national Pre-trial actions; interim relief; - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Citation preview
Enforcement of PVRs in the Ornamental Sector
Forum Conference on IP Protection for Plant Innovation Amsterdam, 18 April 2008
TJEERD F.W. OVERDIJKAttorney-at-law
Vondst Advocaten
Outline
Enforcement regimes: EU and national Pre-trial actions; interim relief; Compensation of damages; recovery of costs; Cross-border issues
Enforcement rules – relevant levels
CPVR; Anti-Piracy Regulation (EU 1383/2003); Enforcement Directive National Plant Variety Acts;
Enforcement rules CPVR
Articles 94 – 107; 94 : enjoin infringement and/or
compensation; 95 : before grant: reasonable compensation; 97 : restitution of gain under national laws; 103: procedure: rules of relevant state; 107: ‘penalties’: rules for corresponding
national rights.
Enforcement rules – national level
Injunction (temporary measures); Forms of seizure;
‘regular’ ‘conservatory’ seizure New: seizure for preserving means of proof New: Descriptive seizure; New: Sequestration of samples
New: ex parte court order;
Enforcement rules – national level Compensation of damages – surrender of profits; Accounting and other information; Fixation of estimated damages; Full recovery of legal fees; Surrender/destruction of infringing material; Services of intermediaries; Posting bond; Publication of judgment. National rules provide more remedies than CPVR!
Anti-Piracy Regulation
Actions against imports; exports; re-export (includes ‘transit goods’);
Simplified procedure for destruction; Taking of samples by customs; Customs take care of the job; but: thorough preparation remains essential.
Proof of infringement
Statements of witness / declaration of bailiff; Physical proof / documents; Auction statistics; Accounts of certification institutes; Experts; Research labs / -agencies;
DNA analysis:
AFLP Dendrogram:
Exclusive right; scope of protection
Protection is basically for propagating material (reproduction and trading);
Extension 1: variety constituents or harvested material (13-2,3 CPVR);
Extension 2: EDVs; varieties not distinct and hybrids (13-5 CPVR).
14-2 UPOV; 13-2,3 CPVR
Protection of harvested material only: if obtained through unauthorized use of
variety constituents; and unless holder has had a reasonable
opportunity to exercise his right.
Unauthorized use
Authorization of breeders required for acts in respect of harvested material obtained through unauthorized use of propagating material of the protected variety;
Relevant whether or not variety protected in territory where unauthorized use took place?
Does breach of licence agreement constitute unauthorized use? -> Art. 27-2 CPVR!
4 unauthorized situations:
Existence of valid PVR: No licence has been granted; Breach of licence agreement;
No valid PVR in country of origin: Material has been obtained under contractual
restrictions; No contractual restrictions apply.
Reasonable opportunity
With regard to variety constituents / propagating material;
What if no right in country of origin? What if right exists in country of origin? What is reasonable? What is exercise? Duty to litigate?
Exhaustion of PVR under CPVR: PVR is exhausted when: Material of protected variety has been sold or
marketed by breeder or with his consent; But NOT in case: Material has been used for further propagation; export into country which does not protect varieties of
the plant genus or species to which the variety belongs;
Except when further propagation is intended or export is for purpose of final consumption.
Case 1:
Breeder B in DE has EU PBR; B sells pm to propagator P in GR; P has prop licence from B; P sells cuttings to grower G in TU; B has no protection in TU; G exports cut flowers to importer I in NL; Importer I sells at auction in NL.
Case 2:
Breeder B in DE has EU PBR; B sells pm to propagator P in GR; P has prop licence from B and licence to sell
in EU; P sells cuttings to grower G in ET; G exports cut flowers to importer I in NL; Importer I sells at auction in NL.
Case 3:
Breeder B in DE has EU PBR; B sells cuttings to grower G in TU; Contract says: only grow and sell in TU; B has no protection in TU; G reproduces and exports cut flowers to
supermarket in UK.
Case 4:
Breeder B in US has EU + IL PBR; B sells cuttings to grower G in IL; G does not pay royalties due; G and exports cut flowers to NL and sells at
auction.
Case 5:
Breeder B in US has EU PBR; B sells cuttings to grower G in IL; Contract says: only grow in IL and sell in EU
+ IL; G does not pay royalties due; G and sells cut flowers to importer I in NL; I sells at auction in NL.
Case 6:
Breeder B in US has EU PBR; B sells cuttings to grower G in ET; B has no PVR in ET; G should not reproduce but can sell
anywhere; G does not pay royalties due; G and sells cut flowers to importer I in NL; I sells at auction in NL.
Case 7:
Breeder B in DE has DE PBR for pot plant; B sells cuttings to grower G in DE; G sells cuttings to P in FR who reproduces
them and grows plants in FR; B has no PVR in FR; P sells plants to importer I in DE; I resells plants to customer C in DE .
Case 8: Breeder B in NL has EU PBR; B sells bulbs to trader T in NL; Contract says: only sell to growers who agree:
only to grow plants and not reproduce and agree to grow; and only to sell to customers who assume same obligation no
reproduction; T sells bulbs to propagator P in CL, who has no
licence; B has no title in CL; P reproduces and exports plants to supermarket in UK.
Conclusions:
Means for enforcement of PVRs have improved substantially during recent years;
Protection against harvested material from countries where variety is not protected is unclear.