T&G again wins intellectual property rights protection case at the Supreme People's Court; after the verdict takes effect, the infringing fruit trees are legally destroyed.

T&G Global Limited (hereinafter referred to as T&G) recently won another lawsuit in the Supreme People's Court of the People's Republic of China, successfully safeguarding the plant variety rights of its premium apple variety "Scilate." At the end of December 2025, the Supreme People's Court rendered a final judgment on the case of infringement of plant variety rights between T&G and a Chinese defendant. The judgment supported T&G's litigation request. The judgment also upheld the original judgment made by the Qingdao Intermediate People's Court of Shandong Province in April 2025. Gareth Edgecombe, CEO of T&G, said that this victory is an important achievement for the company in its ongoing efforts to promote intellectual property protection. Mr. Edgecombe pointed out: "The judgment of the Supreme People's Court fully reflects China's firm determination to protect plant variety rights and curb illegal production and infringement under the context of deeply implementing the 'Seed Law'. This is the second time the Supreme Court has made a favorable ruling for T&G, establishing a strong judicial precedent for handling similar infringement cases in China." "Over the past twenty years, T&G has continuously invested a large amount of funds in the research and development and promotion of the 'Scilate' apple variety, which is sold under our high-end Envy® apple brand. Currently, Envy® has become the third largest apple brand in the Chinese market. Relying on the authorized local grower, Xinrongmao Fruit Industry Technology Group, which produces Envy® apples in compliance with standards, we will continue to focus on brand building in this important market." Mr. Edgecombe also said: "This court ruling, along with the recently promulgated 'Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Plant Variety Rights'—which grants strong investigation and enforcement powers to the competent authorities for plant intellectual property infringement—will benefit plant breeders, growers, consumers, and the entire forestry and fruit industry. It also further strengthens T&G's confidence in continuing to invest in the Chinese market, as we are confident that our intellectual property will receive adequate and effective protection in China." The infringement occurred in Shandong Province, the core area for apple planting and production in China, involving the unauthorized production and propagation of Scilate variety materials, and the sale of illegally propagated fruits through online and offline channels. The infringing products used markings similar to T&G's Envy® trademark during promotion and sales, with the infringer attempting to leverage the long-accumulated market reputation and brand advantage of the Scilate variety. Given the large scale and prolonged duration of the infringement, the court has ordered the defendant to pay a substantial amount of compensation to T&G and to immediately cease all actions that infringe on T&G's "Scilate" plant variety rights. Following the first favorable ruling by the Supreme People's Court of the People's Republic of China in early 2025, related enforcement measures have now been implemented—a large number of illegal fruit trees planted in Gansu Province have been centrally destroyed under court supervision. | Image description: Illegally planted Scilate apple trees in a certain orchard in Gansu Province have been lawfully destroyed. Mr. Edgecombe added: "T&G and our Chinese legal team have been working on the infringement..."