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.

Imperial Brands Launches 2ml+10ml blu MAX 6000 Vape System
Imperial Brands Launches 2ml+10ml blu MAX 6000 Vape System
mperial Brands has launched blu MAX 6000 in the UK, positioning the product as a higher-puff vape kit with longer-lasting use and replaceable pod+refill options. The device uses a 2ml+10ml click-on box format, with starter kits priced at £10.99 (approximately $14) and replacement pod+refill packs priced at £7.99 (approximately $10).
Market
May.19
WHO’s First Global Report on Nicotine Pouches: Harm Reduction Questions Remain Amid Global Regulatory Warning
WHO’s First Global Report on Nicotine Pouches: Harm Reduction Questions Remain Amid Global Regulatory Warning
Ahead of World No Tobacco Day 2026, WHO released its first global report on nicotine pouches, warning that rapid market growth, youth-oriented marketing and weak regulation are converging. 2Firsts views the report as an important warning, but not a complete risk assessment, with harm-reduction questions still unresolved.
Special Report
May.17
Innovation, Insights and Networking: NUBIZ Brings the Global NGP Industry Together in Dortmund
Innovation, Insights and Networking: NUBIZ Brings the Global NGP Industry Together in Dortmund
The market for next-generation products is expanding rapidly, with vapes, e-cigarettes, pouches, snus and heat-not-burn products among the industry’s most innovative segments. As part of InterTabac, NUBIZ provides a central platform for reduced-risk tobacco and nicotine products, bringing together global leaders and newcomers from 15 to 17 September. The show combines market insights, product comparisons, networking, a high-level conference programme and exclusive side events.
Jun.03
Vape Vending Machine Concerns Rise in German-Speaking Europe as Schools and Age Checks Come Into Focus
Vape Vending Machine Concerns Rise in German-Speaking Europe as Schools and Age Checks Come Into Focus
Recent reports from Germany and Switzerland show growing concern over vape and tobacco vending machines near schools or in public settings, with parents, teachers and residents questioning youth access, age-verification controls and the sale of vapes alongside snacks and drinks.
Jul.06
Bringing Tax and Insurance Into Nicotine Regulation: Insights From a Tobacco Harm-Reduction Report
Bringing Tax and Insurance Into Nicotine Regulation: Insights From a Tobacco Harm-Reduction Report
A smoke-free nicotine policy report argues that tobacco harm reduction should move beyond product bans and health warnings into tax policy, insurance pricing and risk-based regulation. While some projections remain open to debate, the report highlights a wider challenge: nicotine products, technologies and consumer behavior have changed sharply over the past decade, and regulatory systems may need new tools to better align tobacco control with harm-reduction goals.
Jun.08
Italian Court Ends Six-Year Cigarette Excise Dispute, Rejecting Damages Claim
Italian Court Ends Six-Year Cigarette Excise Dispute, Rejecting Damages Claim
Italy’s Lazio Regional Administrative Court has dismissed an appeal by Italian Tobacco Manufacturing and Manifattura Italiana Tabacco over the cigarette excise calculation mechanism, upholding the minimum tax burden rules and excluding compensation for smaller tobacco operators.
News
Jun.26 by 2Firsts Perspectives