Sun World and Israeli Plant Board settle dispute over plum varieties
Sun World and Israeli Plant Board settle dispute over plum varieties
Sun World International LLC in Bakersfield, CA, and the Plant Board of Israel in Tel Aviv reached a definitive agreement Nov. 21 relative to the licensed production and marketing of Suplumeleven and Suplumtwelve variety plums in Israel.
The agreement was announced by the plant board manager, Gadi Horvitz, and Sun World Senior Vice President David Marguleas.
The agreement settles a longstanding dispute between Sun World and the Israeli fruit industry over unauthorized plantings of various proprietary plum varieties bred and owned by Sun World. The plum varieties feature black-skin and red flesh and are harvested during the month of July. The agreement entitles several hundred newly licensed producers and marketers to distribute plums protected under Israeli Plant Breeders Rights law, and to use Sun World's privately owned "Black Diamond" trademark.
"We are pleased to include this considerable Israeli plum production in Sun World's licensing portfolio," Mr. Marguleas said in a statement. "This newly legitimized production paves the way for Sun World to introduce dozens of new proprietary fruit cultivars to Israeli producers and marketers. The settlement also bolsters our confidence in Israel's plant breeders' rights legislation and underscores its producers' respect for Sun World's intellectual property rights."
In addition to the Israeli production, "Black Diamond" brand plums are produced under license in the United States, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Chile and South Africa.
Terms of the Israeli settlement agreement were not disclosed. The agreement addresses approximately 12 million kilograms of Sun World plums produced on about 200 hectares throughout Israel. A list of authorized "Black Diamond" plum distributors will be available at www.blackdiamondplum.com.
The agreement was announced by the plant board manager, Gadi Horvitz, and Sun World Senior Vice President David Marguleas.
The agreement settles a longstanding dispute between Sun World and the Israeli fruit industry over unauthorized plantings of various proprietary plum varieties bred and owned by Sun World. The plum varieties feature black-skin and red flesh and are harvested during the month of July. The agreement entitles several hundred newly licensed producers and marketers to distribute plums protected under Israeli Plant Breeders Rights law, and to use Sun World's privately owned "Black Diamond" trademark.
"We are pleased to include this considerable Israeli plum production in Sun World's licensing portfolio," Mr. Marguleas said in a statement. "This newly legitimized production paves the way for Sun World to introduce dozens of new proprietary fruit cultivars to Israeli producers and marketers. The settlement also bolsters our confidence in Israel's plant breeders' rights legislation and underscores its producers' respect for Sun World's intellectual property rights."
In addition to the Israeli production, "Black Diamond" brand plums are produced under license in the United States, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Chile and South Africa.
Terms of the Israeli settlement agreement were not disclosed. The agreement addresses approximately 12 million kilograms of Sun World plums produced on about 200 hectares throughout Israel. A list of authorized "Black Diamond" plum distributors will be available at www.blackdiamondplum.com.