Legal Battle: Altria's NJOY Sues JUUL for Patent Infringement

Aug.23.2023
Legal Battle: Altria's NJOY Sues JUUL for Patent Infringement
Altria's subsidiary NJOY has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against JUUL LAB, seeking to ban the import and sale of certain e-cigarette products.

On August 22, Altria announced on its official website that its subsidiary NJOY has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against JUUL LAB. The lawsuit seeks to prohibit the import and sale of certain e-cigarette products of JUUL, including its currently sold JUUL devices and pods.


NJOY files a lawsuit against JUUL.


Murray Garnick, Executive Vice President and General Counsel of the Altria Group, stated:


Protecting our intellectual property is crucial to realizing our vision. JUUL has violated our patent rights through the sale of imported products, and we are requesting the ITC to take appropriate remedial measures against these trade violations.


NJOY has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against JUUL in the federal court in Delaware. The lawsuit accuses JUUL of infringing on the same patents that were previously raised in similar allegations.


The ACE e-cigarette by NJOY is the only pod system product authorized by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the market. The FDA considers the ACE device and its three tobacco-flavored pods to be "suitable for protecting public health".


According to reports, NJOY's lawsuit against ITC accuses JUUL of infringement on US Patent No. 11,497,864 and US Patent No. 10,334,881 (collectively referred to as the "patents in question"), which NJOY acquired from Fuma International, LLC, while settling a patent infringement lawsuit brought against NJOY by Fuma.


The two parties have filed lawsuits against each other.


On June 30th, JUUL announced on its official website that it has filed complaints against NJOY with the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) and the Arizona state court. The complaint alleges that NJOY's product, NJOY Ace, infringes on several of JUUL's patents. JUUL is seeking an injunction from the ITC to prevent NJOY's infringing products from being imported and sold in the United States.


The press release from JUUL does not mention the specific patent names involved in this event. According to information from LAW360, JUUL and its subsidiary VMR Products have accused NJOY of infringing on five patents related to the 'JUULpod' pod.


This document has been generated through artificial intelligence translation and is provided solely for the purposes of industry discourse and learning. Please note that the intellectual property rights of the content belong to the original media source or author. Owing to certain limitations in the translation process, there may be discrepancies between the translated text and the original content. We recommend referring to the original source for complete accuracy. In case of any inaccuracies, we invite you to reach out to us with corrections. If you believe any content has infringed upon your rights, please contact us immediately for its removal.

Philippine FDA Requires Licenses for Vape Products with Medical Claims
Philippine FDA Requires Licenses for Vape Products with Medical Claims
The Philippine Food and Drug Administration has announced that establishments selling vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine products and novel tobacco products with medicinal or therapeutic claims must secure Licenses to Operate. Such products are also required to be registered as pharmaceutical products through the Center for Drug Regulation and Research. The FDA urged stakeholders to comply with the new requirements to ensure product safety, efficacy and quality.
Dec.22 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Tajikistan Weighs a Total Vape Ban as Upper House Chair Orders Draft Bill
Tajikistan Weighs a Total Vape Ban as Upper House Chair Orders Draft Bill
Tajikistan is preparing legislation that could impose a nationwide ban on e-cigarettes. Upper house chair Rustami Emomali (Рустами Эмомали) has ordered the drafting of a bill, which is still under development. Retailers have begun scaling back sales amid tightening signals, while existing tobacco-control rules already restrict smoking in many public places and set fines.
Jan.26 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Russian Police Seize Over 150,000 Counterfeit E-Cigarettes Worth More Than USD 1.65 Million
Russian Police Seize Over 150,000 Counterfeit E-Cigarettes Worth More Than USD 1.65 Million
Russian police in Tambov have detained a man for storing and selling unmarked e-cigarettes. Over 150,000 counterfeit e-cigarettes, cartridges, and e-liquids were seized, valued at more than 126.5 million rubles (approximately USD 1.65 million). Tests revealed that the nicotine content of the seized products exceeded the levels stated on their packaging. A criminal case has been opened under Article 171.1, Part 6 of the Russian Criminal Code.
Dec.09 by 2FIRSTS.ai
JT launches half-price Ploom AURA promotion across online and offline channels
JT launches half-price Ploom AURA promotion across online and offline channels
Japan Tobacco (JT) has announced a limited-time promotion on selected standard colors of its heated tobacco device Ploom AURA, running from 8 December 2025 to 18 January 2026. During the campaign, the starter kit price will be cut from 2,980 yen (approximately US$19.20) to 1,480 yen (around US$9.53).
Dec.05 by 2FIRSTS.ai
 Breaking News | FDA Adds on! Plus Nicotine Pouches to PMTA-Authorized List
Breaking News | FDA Adds on! Plus Nicotine Pouches to PMTA-Authorized List
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has added ON! Plus nicotine pouch products to its list of authorized products, disclosing that the brand has received Marketing Granted Orders (MGO) through the Premarket Tobacco Product Application (PMTA) pathway. The update makes on! Plus the second nicotine pouch brand authorized via PMTA, following ZYN. As of publication, the FDA had not issued a separate press release on the decision.
News
Dec.20
Product | “Mini Water-Bottle” Design, Rated at 60,000 Puffs: Al Fakher Launches New Disposable in the U.S. and UAE
Product | “Mini Water-Bottle” Design, Rated at 60,000 Puffs: Al Fakher Launches New Disposable in the U.S. and UAE
E-cigarette brand Al Fakher has recently listed its disposable hookah-style device, the Al Fakher Crown Bar 60K E-Hose X, across multiple online retail channels in the United States and the United Arab Emirates. The product features a mini water-bottle-like design, is rated for up to 60,000 puffs, comes with a 50ml e-liquid reservoir and a 1,000mAh rechargeable battery, and supports dual DTL/MTL vaping modes.
Jan.28 by 2FIRSTS.ai