Philip Morris International Sues BAT for IQOS Infringement, Seeks ¥100 Million in Damages

Recently, the international tobacco industry has been very lively. First, the United States implemented new regulations on e-cigarettes that angered people, and then the United Kingdom planned to impose e-cigarettes.“sin taxes”It triggered the British Health Organization to attack his behavior as stupid and immoral.

Now it's revealed that British American Tobacco'sHeating non-burning tobacco Gloproducts infringePhilip Morris International Tobacco PMI(A subsidiary of Philip Morris International Tobacco Company is responsible for the research and development of new tobacco products such as e-cigarettes).
 

Recently, according to foreign media reports, Philip Morris International Tobacco Company sued British American Tobacco for infringement.

The company was required to stop Glo's production and sales and compensate 100 million yen (US$898,500).

PMI, a subsidiary of Philip Morris International, claims that British American Tobacco's HNB (a subsidiary of British American Tobacco is responsible for the development and production of new tobacco products such as e-cigarettes)Certain technical characteristics of the company infringe two of PMI's IQOS patents.

A spokesman for British American Tobacco said, questioned the validity of Murphy International's two patents. Although the sales growth of HNB in the Japanese market has slowed down, British American Tobacco and PIM have been selling their respective e-cigarette products in Japan and promoting them in other countries.Moreover, the e-cigarette equipment sold by HNB in Japan contains nicotine, which is different from PMI products.
 

It is understood that the growth of e-cigarette products in the Japanese market has begun to slow down. Philip Morris International, British American Tobacco and Japan Tobacco have increased sales in the Japanese market by sharply lowering prices. Unlike competitors that spread bets on e-cigarettes and heating without burning,Philip Morris International spent US$3 billion mainly on developing iQOS.

Regarding this incident, whether it is infringement or not, I believe it is not something that can be solved in a short period of time. Facing two tobacco giants, who you think has the better chance of winning, you can leave a message below to express your views.