The Costa Rican National Tourism Board, Canatur, met with canopy tour operators from throughout the country this week to discuss a recent court ruling on the patent rights over use of the canopy invention in Costa Rica.

Monday, Canadian national Darren Hreniuk, who developed the canopy tour mechanics and invention in the first such tour developed in the country in Monteverde in the 1990s, received confirmation that his previously approved patent over the invention is valid and in effect.

The ruling spells out a per person fee that other canopy operators in the country would need to pay Hreniuk to continue operating such tours in the country.

In light of the ruling, Canatur is recommending canopy operators do not immediately contact the patent owner. The patent owner’s lawyer this week requested canopy owners contact him to negotiate a usage agreement by June 15.

Canatur said in a press statement that operators should await specific recommendations issued by a team of lawyers working on sorting out the implications of the ruling, and which are expected to be made available next week.

More than forty businessmen, lawyers and other industry representatives met to analyze the ruling and the claims of Hreniuk to charge tour operators the patent rights of this activity.

Canatur recommended that operators and entrepreneurs respond to the situation as a single unit, not individually, and after lawyers and specialists have fully analyzed the situation.

“We want the businessmen to feel safe and supported by the Chamber, as this is one of the most important tourist activities for which we are recognized as a destination worldwide; for many years, we have improved it in aspects of security, quality, and differentiation by private initiative. Many small and medium-sized businesses depend on this in the country, and we will not allow abuses of any kind,” said the president of Canatur.

The team of lawyers will carry out an in-depth study of all the elements to define the best strategy, said Canatur.

Next Thursday another meeting will be held to discuss the results of the analysis with lawyers and a group of entrepreneurs, who, together with Canatur, will define the recommended steps to be taken.