Annie Chun's Removes Lotus Foods' Trademarked Term From Packaging

Annie Chun's resolves copyright issue with Lotus Foods by removing term "Forbidden Rice®" from packaging and all corporate communications relating to Annie Chun's product, Rice Express Black Pearl Rice.

San Rafael, CA (PRWEB) February 18, 2009 -- Annie Chun's CEO Mike Keeland announced today that without knowledge of Lotus Foods' copyright of the term "Forbidden Rice®", Annie Chun's brand unknowingly used the term when referring to the company's product Annie Chun's Rice Express Black Pearl Rice.

Annie Chun's acknowledges that it was mistaken in using this trademarked term. Upon being informed of this copyright issue, Annie Chun's has agreed immediately to remove the term from all packaging, press materials, and any selling materials immediately.

According to Lotus Foods' Principals Caryl Levine and Ken Lee, Lotus Foods is the owner of the US Registration 1.913,603 for "FORBIDDEN RICE" which issued on the Principal Register on August 22, 1995. In addition, they announced that a declaration of incontestability was filed in the US Patent and Trademark Office in August 2001.

About Annie Chun's
Annie Chun first began selling her sauces in 1992 at the Marin County Farmers' Market where she served samples with fresh cooked noodles and vegetables. Today, Annie Chun's Inc. is a multi-million dollar company, with distribution throughout the US, Canada, and England.

In 2005, Annie Chun's forged a strategic partnership with CJ Corp., Korea's largest food producer, strengthening the company's commitment to creating all natural, great tasting products that promote good health and further the company's goal of introducing new and exciting Asian foods to the American consumer.

Annie Chun's All Natural Sauces, Noodles, Noodles & Sauce, Noodle Bowls, Soup Bowls, Noodle Express, Sushi Wraps and Rice Express are available nationwide in gourmet, natural and mass market grocers such as Whole Foods, Safeway, Mollie Stone's, Fairway Market, Giant Foods, King Soopers, Fred Meyer, Kroger, Jewel, Meijer, Publix, SuperTarget, and many others coast to coast.

###