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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Vape Manufacturer Ispire Expands Malaysia Operations, Negotiates Southeast Asia OEM Deal as Nicotine Pouch and US Age-Gating Businesses Develop
Vape Manufacturer Ispire Expands Malaysia Operations, Negotiates Southeast Asia OEM Deal as Nicotine Pouch and US Age-Gating Businesses Develop
US-listed vaping technology and manufacturing company Ispire Technology reported fiscal first-quarter 2027 revenue of $27.5 million on November 9, 2026, down 9.3% year over year but up 3.2% sequentially. Gross margin recovered to 16.2%, while its net loss widened to $6.4 million from $3.3 million a year earlier. Management attributed the sales decline primarily to tighter European vaping regulation and reduced distributor orders. Ispire is expanding manufacturing in Malaysia and negotiating an OEM/ODM agreement with a Southeast Asian vaping brand, with an announcement anticipated in January 2027. The company estimates that Malaysian manufacturing offers an approximately 25% US tariff advantage over China-based production. However, it continues to purchase products from Shenzhen Yi Jia Technology Co., Ltd., a manufacturer controlled by its chairman, and reported $52 million in non-current related-party payables at September 30.
company
Nov.11 by 2Firsts Perspectives
Indonesia's Influential Islamic Body MUI Urges Vape Permit Freeze, Raising Uncertainty for 200 Manufacturers
Indonesia's Influential Islamic Body MUI Urges Vape Permit Freeze, Raising Uncertainty for 200 Manufacturers
Indonesia's Ulema Council (MUI) published Fatwa No. 131/2026 on November 9, declaring electronic cigarette use, production and trade haram under Islamic religious rules. The council urged the Industry Ministry to prohibit the issuance of vape industry permits and review licensing policies, while calling on the president and parliament to enact a comprehensive ban. On November 10, the Constitutional Court heard a challenge to provisions of the 2023 Health Law seeking a prohibition on vape production, importation, distribution and use. The Health Ministry said on November 11 it was studying stronger restrictions, including a possible ban on circulation, while industry association APVI called for tighter oversight rather than a total ban. Indonesia's Industry Ministry previously estimated the sector comprises about 200 companies, Rp31 trillion ($1.7 billion) in cumulative investment and approximately 100,000 supply-chain jobs. No nationwide statutory ban has been enacted.
Regulations
Nov.12
RLX Technology Dropped From FTSE All-World as International Business Reaches 68.5% of Q2 Revenue
RLX Technology Dropped From FTSE All-World as International Business Reaches 68.5% of Q2 Revenue
RLX Technology (NYSE: RLX) has been removed from the FTSE All-World Index, effective September 21. FTSE Russell records show RLX was already part of its global equity index universe by 2022, when its American depositary receipts were classified as China Large Cap securities. Trading volume rose to about 44.77 million shares on September 18, roughly 23 times the previous session's volume. RLX reported RMB1.0105 billion in second-quarter revenue, up 14.8% year over year, with international operations contributing 68.5%. The company also acquired a 51% stake in one of Western Europe's largest distributors of next-generation smoke-free and FMCG products in July.
Sep.22
NAS 2026 | Cliff Douglas: Risk Continuum Should Play a Central Role in Tobacco Policy
NAS 2026 | Cliff Douglas: Risk Continuum Should Play a Central Role in Tobacco Policy
Cliff Douglas, a veteran U.S. tobacco-control and public health policy figure, told NAS 2026 that the “continuum of risk” should play a central role in tobacco policy. He called for clearer market pathways, stronger risk communication, differentiated regulation and enforcement, and said possible FDA reforms to PMTA reviews could be a “welcome correction” if they create a more efficient, predictable route for scientifically substantiated lower-risk products. Read 2Firsts’ on-site coverage.
Sep.26
South Korea Imports 12,126 Kg of Nicotine Analogues From April to August After Bringing Synthetic Nicotine Under Tobacco Law
South Korea Imports 12,126 Kg of Nicotine Analogues From April to August After Bringing Synthetic Nicotine Under Tobacco Law
South Korea's liquid-vape market is showing changes across raw-material imports, product types and sales channels after synthetic nicotine came under the Tobacco Business Act on April 24. Customs data show nicotine-analogue imports totaled 12,126 kilograms from April through August, while synthetic-nicotine imports over the same five months totaled 231,663 kilograms, just 39.3% of the amount imported in March alone. Physical liquid-vape stores tracked in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province fell 9.9%, unmanned outlets edged higher and online sales listings increased from 27,774 to 42,437. Government testing of 105 liquid inhalation products promoted as nicotine-free separately found nicotine in 13 and 6-methylnicotine in 12.
Sep.22
UK Vape Duty Starts in October as Hayati, DOJO and Others Launch Lower-Capacity Products With Lower Per-Unit Tax
UK Vape Duty Starts in October as Hayati, DOJO and Others Launch Lower-Capacity Products With Lower Per-Unit Tax
The UK's Vaping Products Duty will take effect on October 1, 2026, at a flat rate of £2.20 per 10ml of vaping liquid. Ahead of implementation, DOJO, PIXL and Hayati have introduced or been reported to be adding lower-capacity tiers alongside larger products. DOJO has added a 6ml BLAST7K Fresh below its 10ml BLAST10K Fresh, PIXL offers both a 12ml 8000 and a 6ml 5K, while retailer Ninja Vapes says Hayati is preparing a 7ml 4K alongside its existing 12ml 6K. The pattern points to a growing lower-capacity tier in the UK market, although the brands have not all explicitly linked the changes to the new duty.
Sep.23