It is for the new patent court to rule on whether Plant-e’s patent has been infringed. Foto Shutterstock Plant-e, a WUR spin-off, has the dubious distinction of being the first to file an infringement suit before the Dutch division of the Unified Patent Court (UPC), a new court for European patents. According to Plant-e, the Spanish company Bioo is violating its patent rights in Europe.
Plant-e develops products in which live plants generate electricity [Dutch only] for lighting and sensors, for example. The foundation for this was laid by WUR’s Environmental Technology chair group. It had the Plant Microbial Fuel Cell (P-MFC) technology, which had been developed, patented. When a number of researchers founded Plant-e, the company bought the rights to market the technology. Plant-e also successfully applied for the European patent.
Valorisation
‘Patent rights play a key role in valorising knowledge developed at Dutch universities. We have worked tirelessly for years to develop this technology. Our patent protects this work’, says Plant-e founder and CEO Marjolein Helder. ‘For that reason we are determined to defend our rights and to resist any infringement of our patent rights. Respect for intellectual property is crucial to innovation and progress.’
The Unified Patent Court (UPC) is a new court for patent litigation within the 17 EU Member States that have joined it. The Dutch division, which is based in The Hague, was opened in mid-May by Minister Adriaansens (Economic Affairs & Climate Policy). Lawsuits could be brought there from 1 June. It is not yet known when the substantive hearing of the Plant-e case can be expected.
