Trace Minerals, Mineral Resources At Odds

OGDEN, Utah—Trace Minerals Research (www.traceminerals.com) announced Sept. 20 it filed a lawsuit against Mineral Resources International (MRI) in July 2006, alleging trademark infringement and misuse of intellectual property (IP). The companies issued competing statements in early September regarding the status of the supply agreement between the firms.

MRI’s (www.mineralresourcesint.com) initial release stated its exclusive supply agreement with Trace Minerals ended in April 2006, and that it was now supplying its mineral products under the brand name Health Solu+ions™ directly to health food stores for which Trace Minerals had previously been MRI’s exclusive distributor. It further noted its harvest operation is authorized, inspected and regulated by the State of Utah.

Trace Minerals announced at the same time that it negotiated an exclusive agreement with Salt Lake Minerals to provide its mineral contents. It noted Salt Lake Minerals has multiple permits to harvest food grade minerals and trace minerals from the Great Salt Lake, and will supply the necessary ingredients to produce Trace Minerals’ ConcenTrace® ionic and trace minerals extract.