Philip Morris Products SA Invalidates Patent in Court Victory

Jul.03.2022
Philip Morris Products successfully invalidated a patent claim over e-cigarette design by Renovo Tobacco, following litigation.

Philip Morris Products SA, a subsidiary of Philip Morris International Inc., has succeeded in convincing an administrative court that one of Reynolds Tobacco's patents covering the design of vapor electronic cigarettes is partially invalid. In 2020, Reynolds Tobacco and RJ Reynolds Vapor Co. filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Philip Morris International, claiming six patents, including the invalidated patent at issue.

 

On Thursday, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board stated that two claims in the U.S. Patent No. 9,814,268 are invalid. The patent pertains to an electronic smoking device containing tobacco that is designed to burn a small amount.

 

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Spain Cigarette Volumes Fall 5.2% in August, BAT Drops 14.5%, JTI Gains Share; France Down 8.3% on Adjusted Basis
Spain Cigarette Volumes Fall 5.2% in August, BAT Drops 14.5%, JTI Gains Share; France Down 8.3% on Adjusted Basis
Spain's cigarette volumes declined 5.2% year over year in August 2026, according to government data cited by UBS and reported by Investing.com on October 7. British American Tobacco's volumes fell 14.5%, followed by Imperial Brands at 8.8%, Philip Morris International at 6.6% and Japan Tobacco at 4.6%. JTI was the only one of the four companies to gain cigarette market share, rising six basis points to 26.7%. In France, official customs data showed an unadjusted 3.7% decline in cigarette deliveries. Adjusting for the difference in delivery days produces a decline of approximately 8.3%, consistent with the UBS figure. The bank also estimated the earnings exposure of major tobacco companies to both markets.
Market
Oct.13
Product | Four CrossBar 20K 13mL High-Puff Vapes Listed on Pennsylvania's ENDS Directory, Rated for Up to 20,000 Puffs
Product | Four CrossBar 20K 13mL High-Puff Vapes Listed on Pennsylvania's ENDS Directory, Rated for Up to 20,000 Puffs
Four CrossBar 20K disposable e-cigarettes appeared on Pennsylvania's 163-entry ENDS directory ahead of enforcement beginning October 19, 2026. The devices feature 13mL e-liquid reservoirs, 50mg/mL nicotine, 2,000mAh batteries and 0.9Ω mesh coils, with advertised puff counts of up to 20,000. CrossBar was the only modern high-puff disposable series among the directory's 15 disposable entries. Its packaging emphasizes New York design and Japanese-origin flavoring, while historical CrossBar records identify a registered U.S. tobacco manufacturing-related establishment. The link between the newer 13mL devices and earlier 1.3mL PMTA filings remains unconfirmed.
product
Oct.26
Product | Philip Morris Launches TEREA Bold Red and Bold Black in Germany With Level-10 Tobacco Intensity at €8 per Pack
Product | Philip Morris Launches TEREA Bold Red and Bold Black in Germany With Level-10 Tobacco Intensity at €8 per Pack
Philip Morris International (PMI) introduced TEREA Bold Red and Bold Black heated tobacco sticks in Germany in October 2026, both carrying a brand-rated tobacco-flavor intensity of 10, the highest level in the country's TEREA portfolio. Bold Red features leather and warm woody notes, while Bold Black combines woody and subtle floral notes. Both are sold in 20-stick packs at €8, approximately 2.6% above standard TEREA products. Germany's TEREA range now includes 11 flavor variants, alongside a separate 26-stick XL format priced at €10. IQOS Germany announced the new products on October 12, followed by a phased retail rollout from late October and an IQOS Club campaign running through December.
product
Nov.02
2Firsts First Look|China to End VAT Export Rebates on Vape Devices and Nicotine in April 2027, Following Earlier Removal for HTP Devices and Nicotine Vapes
2Firsts First Look|China to End VAT Export Rebates on Vape Devices and Nicotine in April 2027, Following Earlier Removal for HTP Devices and Nicotine Vapes
China's Ministry of Finance and State Taxation Administration announced on October 12, 2026, that value-added tax (VAT) export rebates for vape devices, nicotine and its salts, and certain non-combustible inhalation products will be eliminated from April 1, 2027. The measure adds four tobacco- and nicotine-related customs codes, including 8543400010, which covers vape devices and qualifying empty pods. China previously eliminated rebates for nicotine-containing vaping products and devices under code 8543400090 in April 2026. According to industry classification information held by 2Firsts, the latter currently corresponds to heated tobacco devices. Export excise tax refund and exemption arrangements will remain unchanged.
Special Report
Oct.12
Special Report | Altria's NACS Booth Raises Questions Over U.S. Tobacco Advertising Warnings
Special Report | Altria's NACS Booth Raises Questions Over U.S. Tobacco Advertising Warnings
During its coverage of Altria's booth at NACS Show 2026, 2Firsts documented product displays that prompted questions about U.S. tobacco advertising warning requirements. Following public comments from a former FDA official, 2Firsts sought responses from Altria and independently consulted U.S. regulatory lawyer Azim Chowdhury. Altria maintained that its B2B communications complied with applicable laws, while Chowdhury explained that federal warning rules provide no general trade-show exemption for e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches. The special report examines the broader regulatory implications.
Nov.04
India Duty-Free Nicotine Pouch Sales Face Regulatory Test as ZYN, FOX Classification Remains Open
India Duty-Free Nicotine Pouch Sales Face Regulatory Test as ZYN, FOX Classification Remains Open
The Bombay High Court has ruled that airport duty-free shops are not exempt from India's domestic regulatory laws merely because they operate beyond the customs barrier, leaving in place a sales halt covering ZYN and FOX nicotine pouches at Mumbai's international airport. The court, however, did not determine that the products necessarily qualify as "drugs" under India's Drugs and Cosmetics Act. The retailers have four weeks to submit product information to the appropriate authorities, including CDSCO, which must complete its review within 30 days of receiving the submissions.
Sep.24