The following provisions of the licensing agreement concluded on 28 October 1971 and modified in 1974 between URS-F (Richardier) and Mr R. Royon for the exploitation of the rose bush variety Sonia Meilland ('cut flower' agreement) constituted infringements of Article 85 (1) of the EEC Treaty:
1The obligation imposed on the licensee, Mr R. Royon, by Article X of the agreement to surrender to Meilland all mutations discovered on rose bushes of the licensed variety so that such mutations might remain the exclusive property of Meilland and so that the latter might decide unilaterally whether to exploit them commercially.2The obligation imposed in this respect on the licensee by the new version of the agreement, after the amendment incorporated in 1974 (new Article XII), which allows the plant breeder Meilland a period of three years from the date of surrender of a mutation by the licensee within which to impose its unilateral decision concerning the commercial exploitation of the mutation.3.The obligation imposed on the licensee in the new version of the agreement drawn up in 1974 (new Article VIII entitled 'Guarantee') not to challenge the validity of applications for plant breeders' certificates or of the plant breeders' certificates which are assigned to him under licence.