Ethical Naturals Announces Settlement of Patent Dispute

SAN ANSELMO, Calif. Ethical Naturals Inc. announced the company reached a final settlement with Minneapolis-based Cargill Inc. regarding the production and sale of glucosamine from vegetable sources. Both firms had filed actions in the International Trade Court (ITC) and U.S. federal court alleging patent infringement relating to the manufacture of glucosamine. Ethical Naturals owns and markets GreenGrown vegetable glucosamine; Cargill produces and markets the Regenasure brand of vegetable glucosamine.

The court actions have now been withdrawn, with no admission of infringement by Ethical Naturals. Under terms of the joint settlement and licensing agreement, Ethical Naturals will continue to market its GreenGrown ingredient for dietary supplements in the United States, but not into Canada, the European Union or Brazil; it can market the product for supplement, food and beverage uses in all other areas of the world. Other details of the settlement are confidential.

We are pleased to have arrived at this settlement with Cargill, said Cal Bewicke, president, Ethical Naturals. Although there are some restrictions, we will be continuing to sell our high quality material to our many customers in the U.S. dietary supplement industry, as well as overseas.