Source: https://www.creativemachineslab.com/digital-food.html

Author: Grup de recerca de la Universitat de Columbia

Recipes- Trade secret- Databaseright- Patent?- Copyright?

Machine- Patent (technology)*- Design right (shape)*- Copyright (overal

impression)- Trademark (branding)

Output product appearance

- Copyright*- Design right

Taste- Likely no IPR (CJEU

Heksenkaas)

Printing files- Copyright- Trade secret- Databaseright?

Printing process- Patent*- Trade secret*

Name of product- Trademark

Patent machine1. Technology

2. Entire machines and parts• Heating and cooling techniques• Storage techniques• Types of nozzles• Conveying techniques • Cleaning techniques• Tubing

3. Use the patent databases! • Inspiration • Freedom to operate / landscaping

Be aware of possible IP infringement

Patent processExample:

1. Method of adding medication in (printed) food

2. Benefits: • Less patient resistance

• Controlling dosage

• Optimizing shape for admission of medicine

Copyright

1. Requirements

2. Possible protection• Output shape

• Photo’s

• Text and look of recipe

3. Probably no protection• Recipe itself

• Taste

Design right

Trade secret1. Requirement

2. Is it possible to keep it secret? • Exact recipe

• Process steps (temperature, process order, etc.)

What’s in a name?

Can you 3D print:

1. Soy yogurt?

2. A veggie burger?

3. Parma ham / prosciutto di parma?

Legal framework1. The Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (2005/29/EC)

2. Misleading and Comparative Advertising Directive (114/2006/EC) • prohibits misleading practices that contain false information and are likely to deceive the average consumer

3. General Food Law Regulation (178/2002) • the labelling, advertising and presentation of food or feed, including their shape, appearance or packaging

and the setting in which they are displayed, shall not mislead consumers

4. Food Labelling Regulation (1169/2011)• the labelling, advertising and presentation of food shall not mislead the public as to the characteristics of the

foodstuff

5. Regulation on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs (1151/2012) • PDO (Protected Designation of Origin), PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) and TSG (Traditional Speciality

Guaranteed)

6. Regulation on the Common Market Organisation (CMO) for Agricultural Products (1308/2013)• specific definitions, designations and sales descriptions of e.g. meat, dairy products, wine products, eggs and

oils

Misleading labelling?1. 'Felix raspberry and vanilla adventure’

2. depictions of raspberries and vanilla flowers

3. indication 'fruit tea with natural flavourings’ / 'only natural ingredients’

CJEU 4 June 2015, case C-195/14, (BVV/Teekanne)

(about Food Labelling Regulation)

1. ‘labelling’: any words, particulars, trade marks, brand name, pictorial matter or symbol relating to a foodstuff and placed on its packaging

2. Average consumer reads the mandatory list of ingredients

3. in case some of the items on the packaging are misleading / ambiguous / contradictory, then a correct list of ingredients may not be capable of sufficiently correcting the consumer’s misleading impression

PDO’s, PGI’s and TSG’s1. Protected Designation of Origin

• regional products originating in a given region, provided that the quality or other characteristics of the product are essentially attributable to the particular geographical environment of the place of origin

Examples: Gorgonzola (cheese), Prosciutto di Parma (ham).

2. Protected Geographical Indication• regional products originating in a certain region, provided that the quality, reputation

or other characteristics of of the product can be attributed to that geographical origin

Examples: Brussels grondwitloof (chicory heads), Jambon d'Ardenne (ham), Westland druif (table grapes)

3. Traditional Specialty Guaranteed • link between the quality of the product and a traditional recipe or production

method

Examples: Mozzarella (cheese), Kriek (beer), Hollandse Maatjes/Hollandse Nieuwe (herring)

SummaryCheck:

• What impression does the name/packaging give? Does itcorrespond with content of product?

• Is a PDO, PGI or TSG used? Check eAmbrosia register on site EC.

• Purely plant-based products cannot use dairy names (milk, cream, butter, cheese or yogurt). ‘Yogurt style’ and ‘cheesealternative’ are allowed.

• Meat-related terms such as 'burger', 'sausage' and 'steak’ can in principle be used for products that actually contain no meat.

Picture courtesy of Redefine Meat©

Answers

Can you 3D print:

1. Soy yogurt?

2. A veggie burger?

3. Parma ham / prosciutto di parma?

Conclusion – Names matter!!!

A plant-based burger but not a plant-based cheeseburger?

Questions?

E r.sjoerdsma@holla.nlT +31 88 440 24 85M +31 6 51 53 55 82

E Rutgers@louwersadvocaten.nlT +31 40 2329 204M +31 6 10 64 86 74