Impact of IQOS Patent Invalidation on Chinese E-Cigarette Industry

Jan.09.2023
Impact of IQOS Patent Invalidation on Chinese E-Cigarette Industry
PMI-BAT patent battle over IQOS temporarily ended, gives Chinese e-cigarette companies more opportunities. Learn from the experience on Jan 12.

In December, the patent war between Philip Morris International (PMI) and British American Tobacco (BAT) temporarily concluded with the invalidation of the IQOS core patent in the UK. In the game between the two tobacco giants in the European market, PMI's four heat-not-burn (HNB) patents were ruled invalid, greatly reducing the risk of HNB products entering the European market and presenting more opportunities for electronic cigarette manufacturers in Europe. So, how does the invalidation of the IQOS core patent affect Chinese electronic cigarette companies? How should Chinese electronic cigarette companies respond to patent issues when going global? What experience can Chinese electronic cigarette companies gain from this patent war?


On January 12th at 2 pm, 2FIRSTS held a seminar on the PMI-HNB Resistance Heater Patent Lawsuit. The event featured keynote speakers from the Beijing Zhong Lun Wende (Kunming) law firm and tobacco industry expert lawyer Tang Shunliang, who provided a comprehensive overview of the patent disputes between two major tobacco companies. They also explored the profound implications for Chinese e-cigarette manufacturers following the breakthrough of the HNB resistance heater patent barrier.


Live broadcast explanation


Title: Seminar on Patent Litigation Case of "PMI-HNB Resistance Heater


Date and Time: January 12th, from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM.


Speaker: Lawyer Tang Shunliang


Content arrangement:


Key Patent Litigation Analysis for BAT and PMI from 2020 to 2022.


2. Analyzing the Legal Documents to Understand the Battle Strategies between Two Tobacco Giants.


3. In-depth analysis of the core patented technology scheme of the resistance heating element.


What risks and opportunities do export-oriented e-cigarette companies face?


Summarizing the experience in handling foreign patents from PMI patent case.


After the lecture, there will be a dedicated session for discussion and questions, and we encourage active participation and communication.



Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

Product | Summo 150K Introduces Refillable Design With Up to 150,000 Puffs, Exploring a New High-Capacity Vape Format
Product | Summo 150K Introduces Refillable Design With Up to 150,000 Puffs, Exploring a New High-Capacity Vape Format
Summo has introduced the Summo 150K Refillable Disposable Vape, entering the ultra-high-puff vape segment with a claimed capacity of up to 150,000 puffs. The device combines a 40ml dual e-liquid system, transparent tank design, dual mesh coils and a 900mAh rechargeable battery, using a refillable structure to differentiate itself from conventional disposable vapes. The product appeared on overseas online retail channels including Vapesourcing and VapeBarTime between late June and early July 2026.
Jul.22
Argentina Updates Health Warning Rules to Include Vapes and Nicotine Pouches
Argentina Updates Health Warning Rules to Include Vapes and Nicotine Pouches
Argentina’s Ministry of Health has updated its health warning rules for tobacco and nicotine products, adding e-cigarettes, vapes, heated tobacco products, sticks and nicotine pouches to mandatory warning requirements.
Jul.08
Ireland Vape Bill Passes Dáil, Setting Limits on Flavours, Packaging and Retail Display
Ireland Vape Bill Passes Dáil, Setting Limits on Flavours, Packaging and Retail Display
Ireland’s Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill 2026 has passed final stage in the Dáil and will move to the Seanad, with measures to limit vape flavours to tobacco or unflavoured products and tighten rules on packaging colours, retail advertising, in-store displays and sales of nicotine pouches to minors.
News
Jun.26 by 2Firsts Perspectives
Former ATF Official’s Claims on Chinese Vape Companies and 6-Methyl Nicotine Fuel US Regulatory Debate
Former ATF Official’s Claims on Chinese Vape Companies and 6-Methyl Nicotine Fuel US Regulatory Debate
Former ATF Deputy Director Edgar Domenech has warned that some Chinese vape companies may be using 6-methyl nicotine, a nicotine analogue, raising new questions over how US regulators should classify emerging nicotine compounds.
Jul.13
Tasmania Reports Annual Enforcement Results: 5.5 Million Illegal Cigarettes and Nearly 30,000 Vapes Seized, With IGET Products Visible in Official Images
Tasmania Reports Annual Enforcement Results: 5.5 Million Illegal Cigarettes and Nearly 30,000 Vapes Seized, With IGET Products Visible in Official Images
Tasmania reported its 2025/26 illicit tobacco enforcement results on July 14, with authorities seizing about 5.5 million illegal cigarettes, more than 2,500 kilograms of loose tobacco and nearly 30,000 vapes.
Jul.15
Product | VELO Launches Tomorrowland Limited Edition 2026 as Festival IP Enters Nicotine Pouch Packaging
Product | VELO Launches Tomorrowland Limited Edition 2026 as Festival IP Enters Nicotine Pouch Packaging
BAT’s nicotine pouch brand VELO has introduced the Tomorrowland Limited Edition 2026. Public retail-channel information shows the product has appeared across multiple European online platforms, while Haypp UK has listed related SKUs with a “Coming soon” status. The packaging carries the wording “Official Tomorrowland Partner,” indicating that the collection is part of VELO’s official collaboration with the electronic music festival brand.
Jul.02