Yangzhou serves up trademark fried rice

YANGZHOU - Yangzhou fried rice, a common cuisine so widespread it is served in high-end hotels and small restaurants across the country, was recently approved as a trademark after a decade of effort.

Supported by local authorities, the Yangzhou cuisine association first filed an application for trademark registration with the Trademark Office of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce in July, 2000.

The application was initially refused due to concerns that once the collective trademark was granted, making the dish outside Yangzhou could be considered illegal.