RAI Strategic Holdings Inc. Files Patent Infringement Case

Business by 2FIRSTS.ai
Jun.13.2024
RAI Strategic Holdings Inc. Files Patent Infringement Case
RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc. files patent infringement complaint with USITC against 42 companies for certain e-cigarette products.

On June 11, 2024, RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc., R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, RAI Services Company, and R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company filed a complaint with the United States International Trade Commission under Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, alleging patent infringement of certain e-cigarette products exported from the US, imported into the US, or sold in the US. They requested the initiation of a Section 337 investigation and the issuance of a general exclusion order, limited exclusion order, and cease and desist orders. A total of 42 companies from the US, China, the UK, and other countries are involved in the case.

 

According to documents from the U.S. International Trade Commission, the following companies have been listed as proposed defendants by Reynolds Tobacco because they are suspected of importing, selling, or distributing disposable electronic vaporization devices and their components that allegedly infringe U.S. Patent No. 11,925,202 ("the '202 patent").

 

The proposed respondents include the following companies:

 

1. Breeze Smoke, LLC 2. Capital Sales Company 3. KMT Services, LLC doing business as KMT Distribution and Dank Shop 4. Dongguan (Shenzhen) Shikai Technology Co., Ltd. 5. Vapeonly Technology Co. Ltd. 6. iMiracle (Shenzhen) Technology Co., Ltd. 7. Guangdong Qisitech Co., Ltd. 8. Fewo Intelligent Manufacturing, Ltd. 9. Nevera (HK) Ltd. 10. Guangdong Cellular Workshop Electronics Technology Co., Ltd. 11. Wonder Ladies Ltd. 12. Sailing South Ltd. 13. Marea Morada Ltd. 14. Social Brands, LLC 15. Zhuhai Qisitech Co., Ltd. 16. Shenzhen Han Technology Co., Ltd. 17. Palma Terra Ltd. 18. Shenzhen IVPS Technology Co., Ltd. 19. Heaven Gifts International Ltd. 20. Maduro Distributors Inc. doing business as The Loon 21. Bidi Vapor, LLC 22. Kaival Brands Innovations Group Inc. 23. Kimsun Technology (HuiZhou) Co., Ltd. 24. Shenzhen Yanyang Technology Co., Ltd. 25. Pastel Cartel, LLC 26. American Vape Company, LLC 27. Affiliated Imports, LLC 28. Shenzhen Innokin Technology Co., Ltd. 29. Shenzhen Funyin Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. 30. Shenzhen LC Technology Co., Ltd. 31. LCF Labs, Inc. 32. Shenzhen Kangvape Technology Co., Ltd. 33. Flumgio Technology Ltd. 34. Shenzhen Pingray Technology 35. SV3 LLC doing business as Mi-One Brands 36. Price Point Distributors Inc. doing business as Price Point NY 37. Flawless Vape Shop Inc. 38. Flawless Vape Wholesale & Distribution Inc. 39. Thesy, LLC doing business as Element Vape 40. VICA Trading Inc. doing business as Vapesourcing 41. Ecto World, LLC doing business as Demand Vape 42. Midwest Goods Inc. doing business as Midwest Distribution

 

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

Kelly White Bets on Female Consumers as Nicotine Pouch Competition Intensifies | 2Firsts Interview
Kelly White Bets on Female Consumers as Nicotine Pouch Competition Intensifies | 2Firsts Interview
Swedish nicotine pouch brand Kelly White is building its strategy around adult female consumers. Founder and CEO Sophia Wilsby told 2Firsts that women accounted for around 70% of the brand’s repeat customers on HAYPP in Sweden in 2025. The interview explores female consumer segmentation, product and design differentiation, gender stereotypes, packaging regulation, and how independent brands can compete with global players such as ZYN and VELO while considering funding, partnerships and future ownership options.
Business
Sep.24
As Regulators Focus on Nicotine Pouch Child Safety, Safeguard Pursues an External Packaging Route
As Regulators Focus on Nicotine Pouch Child Safety, Safeguard Pursues an External Packaging Route
As regulators pay closer attention to child safety in nicotine pouches, manufacturers face a practical challenge: how to strengthen child-resistant packaging without unnecessarily reworking products, production lines and regulatory submissions already in place. In a written interview with 2Firsts, Chemular detailed Safeguard’s external packaging approach, its customer-specific testing requirements and possible PMTA pathways. The model remains early-stage, but it offers a new way to think about an increasingly important regulatory and manufacturing issue.
Industry Insight
Sep.19
U.S. Judge Stays Helix, NJOY Challenge to FDA PMTA Rule Pending New Rulemaking Court Stays Altria's Helix, NJOY Challenge to PMTA Rule as FDA Prepares New Rulemaking
U.S. Judge Stays Helix, NJOY Challenge to FDA PMTA Rule Pending New Rulemaking Court Stays Altria's Helix, NJOY Challenge to PMTA Rule as FDA Prepares New Rulemaking
A federal judge in Texas on Oct. 8 granted a joint request by the FDA and plaintiffs including Altria subsidiaries Helix Innovations and NJOY to stay litigation challenging the agency's 2021 PMTA rule. The court cited FDA's anticipated rulemaking concerning the regulation at issue. FDA announced on Sept. 28 that it intends to reassess the PMTA framework and could initiate new rulemaking to replace it. The parties must file a joint status report within 45 days and every 45 days thereafter. A motion by three Reynolds American companies to intervene remains pending.
Regulations
Oct.10
From Nicotine Salts to Cocrystals: China’s Shenzhen Huabao institute explores a more stable form for sustained nicotine release
From Nicotine Salts to Cocrystals: China’s Shenzhen Huabao institute explores a more stable form for sustained nicotine release
China-based Shenzhen Huabao Collaborative Innovation Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd. has filed a patent application for a nicotine-ascorbic acid cocrystal, exploring a new solid-state form of nicotine. The patent proposes applications across e-liquids, heated tobacco sticks, oral tobacco, chewing tobacco and snuff. In nicotine pouch tests disclosed in the filing, cocrystal formulations showed less than a 6% decline in nicotine content after three months of accelerated storage and a release profile combining early-stage release with sustained delivery over 60 minutes. The filing reflects exploration of nicotine forms beyond conventional nicotine base and nicotine salts.
Aug.13
Cochrane 2026 Update Adds Nine Trials, Keeps High-Certainty Finding That Nicotine E-Cigarettes Improve Quit Rates Over NRT
Cochrane 2026 Update Adds Nine Trials, Keeps High-Certainty Finding That Nicotine E-Cigarettes Improve Quit Rates Over NRT
Cochrane’s 2026 update of its living review on electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation included 80 randomized controlled trials involving 29,861 adult smokers, with nine trials added in this update. The review retained its high-certainty conclusion that nicotine e-cigarettes increase smoking cessation rates compared with nicotine replacement therapy. In absolute terms, about 10 in 100 people using nicotine e-cigarettes may quit smoking for at least six months, compared with about 6 in 100 using NRT. The review found no clear difference in serious adverse event rates between the two groups, while longer-term safety and the relative effectiveness of newer device types remain less certain.
Sep.07
Product | PMJ Adds Bold Ruby to IQOS ILUMA i Lineup in Japan, Convenience-Store Rollout Starts Sept. 29
Product | PMJ Adds Bold Ruby to IQOS ILUMA i Lineup in Japan, Convenience-Store Rollout Starts Sept. 29
Philip Morris Japan (PMJ) launched Bold Ruby as a new regular color for the IQOS ILUMA i and IQOS ILUMA i ONE in Japan on September 16, 2026, priced at JPY 6,980 and JPY 3,980, respectively. Initial sales began through IQOS online and physical channels, with convenience stores and selected tobacco retailers set to follow from September 29. Bold Ruby is a regular rather than limited-edition colorway and is available for the ILUMA i and ILUMA i ONE, but not the ILUMA i PRIME. The release does not involve changes to the devices' core hardware or functions.
Sep.22