According to a report from Naver on October 22nd, the legal battle between KT&G and e-cigarette manufacturer iMTEK has been ongoing for a year and seven months. In March 2022, KT&G filed a lawsuit against iMTEK for patent infringement. Although both parties engaged in some additional negotiations after the lawsuit was initiated, the differences between them remained unresolved, leading to a large-scale public trial.
According to industry insiders, the Seoul Central District Court has heard details and key points regarding this case. KT&G has accused iMTEK of unauthorized filing for this patent technology, but argues that the technology should be considered as a result of contractual services.
KT&G has requested the transfer of six patented technologies from iMTEK, which include structures like fluid atomizer heaters, electric heating aerosol generators, particulate generation devices, and e-cigarette electric heating aerosol generators. These technologies were developed during the contract period from 2016 to 2018 and are rightfully owned by KT&G as per the terms of the agreement at that time.
However, iMTEK countered by stating that they signed agreements with KT&G that were one-sided in favor of the latter. Both parties have signed annual technical development service contracts, but there are differences in the specific details of the agreements. For instance, the 2017 contract established "joint ownership and subsequent payments," but starting from 2018, it changed to "in practice, all rights belong to KT&G.
iMTEK claims that there is no evidence of negotiated outcomes based on technical guidance, and as a result, the ODM procurement transaction has been severed. They further assert that KT&G must bear the responsibility of proving their compliance with the directions for technical development, but they have not submitted any relevant documents such as technical guidance manuals.
The patent dispute between KT&G and iMTEK has been ongoing for three years. Both parties have engaged in negotiations, but have failed to reach a satisfactory agreement, resulting in legal action. The next court hearing is expected to take place in January 2024.
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
