ELFBAR & LOST MARY Unite to Combat Counterfeit: 50K+ Counterfeit Vapes Seized Globally, 30+ Lawsuits Filed

Apr.25.2025
ELFBAR & LOST MARY Unite to Combat Counterfeit: 50K+ Counterfeit Vapes Seized Globally, 30+ Lawsuits Filed
E-cigarette brands ELFBAR and LOST MARY revealed that joint anti-counterfeiting operations in countries including the Czech Republic, Germany, and Russia have led to the seizure of over 50,000 counterfeit vaping products. Additionally, since 2024, the companies have filed more than 30 civil lawsuits against counterfeiters in regions spanning the Chinese mainland, Germany, Russia, and other markets.

Key points:

1.The e-cigarette brands ELFBAR and LOST MARY have collaborated with law enforcement agencies worldwide in the past few months to seize at least 50,000 counterfeit products.

 

2.Since 2024, more than 30 intellectual property lawsuits have been filed in countries such as China, Germany, and Russia.

 

3.On April 9, 2025, a German court ruled that the "ELFPRO" trademark infringed upon the trademark rights of ELFBAR.


According to a report by Reuters on April 24, 2025, e-cigarette brands ELFBAR and LOST MARY stated that they have conducted a joint anti-counterfeiting operation in markets such as the Czech Republic, Germany, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, and the UAE over the past few months, seizing over 50,000 counterfeit products.

 

The report mentioned that in a cross-border law enforcement operation in the border area between Germany and the Czech Republic, more than 30 retailers were found selling counterfeit ELFBA e-cigarettes.

 

LFBAR and LOST MARY stated that they are continuously using legal means, including filing lawsuits, arbitration, and demanding platforms to take down infringing products, to combat intellectual property infringement.

 

Since 2024, ELFBAR and LOST MARY have initiated over 30 civil lawsuits in mainland China, Germany, Russia, and other locations. On April 9, 2025, a German court ruled that the "ELFPRO" trademark infringed upon ELFBAR's trademark rights and could potentially lead to consumer confusion.

 

In addition, the two brands have resolved 119 domain name disputes through arbitration, and have won cases in both the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre and the World Intellectual Property Organization. Nearly 300 suspected infringing webpage links have been successfully removed globally, including the closure of two counterfeit websites and eight links selling infringing products in the United States.

 

The anti-counterfeiting operation of ELFBAR and LOST MARY was launched in June 2021. The brand said they continue to cooperate with law enforcement agencies in various countries to jointly combat counterfeit products.

 

According to reports, ELFBAR and LOST MARY assisted law enforcement in shutting down 15 factories suspected of producing counterfeit products in 2024, and seized over 90,000 counterfeit e-cigarettes. In June 2024, Vietnamese law enforcement agencies conducted a joint raid after coordinating with them, seizing over 160,000 e-cigarettes, including a large quantity of counterfeit LOST MARY products.

 

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn


Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

China STMA Deputy Administrator Meets KT&G COO as Heated Cigarette Rules Advance
China STMA Deputy Administrator Meets KT&G COO as Heated Cigarette Rules Advance
Wang Gongcheng, deputy administrator of China’s State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, met KT&G Chief Operating Officer Lee Sang-hak in Shanghai on September 1, according to Oriental Tobacco News. The meeting comes as China seeks public comment on a draft mandatory national standard for heated cigarettes. The report did not disclose the subjects discussed or indicate whether heated tobacco products or market access were addressed.
News
Sep.02
Product | VAPORESSO Launches PRIX MTL Pod, With NFC Version Linking Interchangeable Panels to On-Screen Animations
Product | VAPORESSO Launches PRIX MTL Pod, With NFC Version Linking Interchangeable Panels to On-Screen Animations
VAPORESSO introduced the PRIX MTL pod system in August 2026 in two versions, Filter and NFC. The Filter version allows users to switch between a conventional drip tip and a filter tip, while the NFC version links interchangeable panels to matching on-screen animations. PRIX features a 2,600mAh battery, a 5.5ml pod, a 0.87-inch TFT display and a maximum output of 40W, alongside Dual Mesh Impact Pods capable of operating at two resistance and power configurations. VAPORESSO's French website lists MSRP at $39.99 for the Filter version and $49.90 for the NFC version.
Market
Aug.24 by 2Firsts Perspectives
BAT Expands ITC Infotech Partnership Across Poland, Romania and India to Advance AI
BAT Expands ITC Infotech Partnership Across Poland, Romania and India to Advance AI
ITC Infotech has expanded its multi-year strategic technology partnership with British American Tobacco (BAT), providing technology services across Poland, Romania and India while continuing to support BAT's newly launched Future Capabilities Centre in India and existing technology hubs in Malaysia and Mexico. The companies said the agreement will focus on AI-enabled innovation, technology capability building and greater operational efficiency. The partnership also aligns with BAT's broader Fit2Win transformation programme, under which the group is expanding the use of external technology and business-services partners to simplify its global operating model.
Aug.13
PMI Global Communications Chief Moira Gilchrist: Why AI Matters More Than Ever in the Smoke-Free Transition
PMI Global Communications Chief Moira Gilchrist: Why AI Matters More Than Ever in the Smoke-Free Transition
Philip Morris International (PMI) Chief Global Communications Officer Moira Gilchrist said artificial intelligence is changing how companies understand audiences, manage owned information channels and communicate business transformation. PMI is using AI-generated audience personas to test messaging while optimizing its corporate website and other owned channels for large language models. As PMI continues its transition from cigarettes toward smoke-free products, Gilchrist said owned data and corporate channels are becoming increasingly important in demonstrating the scale of that transformation.
Aug.26
Australia Brings in Deloitte to Support Illicit Tobacco and Vape Enforcement Across Data, Processes and Project Delivery
Australia Brings in Deloitte to Support Illicit Tobacco and Vape Enforcement Across Data, Processes and Project Delivery
Australia’s Department of Home Affairs has hired Deloitte to provide data analytics, business-process, communications and project-delivery support to the Office of the Illicit Tobacco and E-Cigarette Commissioner. The government says Deloitte personnel do not provide policy advice to the Commissioner or the Australian government, with policy development and decision-making remaining with public officials. The arrangement has nevertheless drawn scrutiny because Deloitte has previously provided professional services to several tobacco and vaping companies.
Sep.03
2Firsts Data | China’s U.S. Vape Exports Have Yet to Regain Previous Growth Momentum in H1 2026, but Hardware Grew 15.2% and 6-Methyl Nicotine-Related Products Rose 234.7%
2Firsts Data | China’s U.S. Vape Exports Have Yet to Regain Previous Growth Momentum in H1 2026, but Hardware Grew 15.2% and 6-Methyl Nicotine-Related Products Rose 234.7%
China’s vape exports to the U.S. reached approximately $1.58 billion in the first half of 2026, remaining broadly stable from a year earlier but still below previous growth momentum. 2Firsts’ analysis of China Customs data shows that the U.S. market has not simply returned to its previous trajectory after the enforcement shock and inventory-driven swings of 2025. Instead, export momentum is shifting across product categories. Vaping devices and atomization hardware increased 15.2% year over year, while 6-methyl nicotine-related and other nicotine substitute products surged 234.7%. Meanwhile, traditional nicotine-containing vaping products continued to face pressure.
Jul.22