U.S. ITC Initiates 337 Investigation on STIIIZY and ALD

Regulations by 2FIRSTS, edited by Sophia
Mar.01.2024
U.S. ITC Initiates 337 Investigation on STIIIZY and ALD
ITC launches investigation into e-cigarette companies STIIIZY and ALD for alleged patent infringement based on complaint by PAX Labs.

On February 29, according to the official website of the United States International Trade Commission (ITC), the ITC has decided to conduct a Section 337 investigation on certain atomization devices, their components, and products containing the same products. This investigation involves companies such as STIIIZY and ALD.

 

This investigation is based on a complaint filed by PAX Labs Inc. on January 30, 2024, and supplemented on February 19, 20, and 21, 2024. The complaint alleges infringement of patents claimed by the complainant, involving the import and sale of certain oil vaporization devices, their components, and products containing the same in the United States. The complainant has requested the ITC to issue a limited exclusion order and a cease and desist order.

 

ITC has identified the following respondents in this investigation:

 

  • STIIIZY IP LLC, formerly known as STIIIZY, LLC, located in Los Angeles, California, USA; 
  • ALD Group Limited, based in Guangdong, China; 
  • ALD (Hong Kong) Holdings Limited, located in Hong Kong, China; 
  • STIIIZY Inc., also known as Shryne Group Inc., situated in Los Angeles, California, USA. 

 

The International Trade Commission (ITC) has not made any decisions yet on the substantive issues of the case initiated through investigation (337-TA-1392). The Chief Administrative Law Judge of the ITC will assign this case to an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), who will schedule and conduct an evidentiary hearing. The ALJ will make an initial determination on whether there is a violation of Section 337, which can be reviewed by the Commission.

 

Within 45 days of the investigation being initiated, the ITC will determine the target date for completing the investigation. Remedial orders in ITC Section 337 cases take effect upon publication and become final within 60 days of publication, unless vetoed by the United States Trade Representative for policy reasons within that 60-day period.

 

Previously, according to a report by Bloomberg on January 30th, e-cigarette manufacturer Pax Labs Inc. has filed a lawsuit against its competitor Stiiizy Inc. and its manufacturer ALD Group Ltd (ALD) for infringing on four of its patents.

 

Pax Labs alleges that Stiiizy and ALD, headquartered in Hong Kong, China, are manufacturing and selling vaporization devices, including batteries and pods, in a manner similar to Pax Labs' patented technology.

 

Pax Labs has obtained U.S. patents 11,369,756, 11,369,757, 11,766,527, and 11,759,580, which are related to methods for leak-proof pods and related devices. Pax Labs has alleged that these two companies have infringed upon the aforementioned patents.

 

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

Australia’s Tasmania Tables New Bill to Strengthen Crackdown on Illicit Tobacco and Vapes
Australia’s Tasmania Tables New Bill to Strengthen Crackdown on Illicit Tobacco and Vapes
The Tasmanian government has tabled the Public Health Amendment (Prohibited Tobacco and Other Products) Bill 2026 in Parliament, proposing new offences, higher penalties and stronger enforcement powers to crack down on illicit tobacco and vaping products.
Mar.25 by 2FIRSTS.ai
New Zealand Vape Company Alt Becomes Government Partner After Suing Over Nicotine Limits
New Zealand Vape Company Alt Becomes Government Partner After Suing Over Nicotine Limits
Health NZ signed a NZD 500,000 contract with New Zealand-owned vape company Alt NZ Limited in December 2025 for its free vape kit programme for smokers, with more than 7,000 kits distributed so far.
Mar.23 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Russian Lawmaker Says Vape Circulation Licensing Will Be Regulated by Law in the Coming Months
Russian Lawmaker Says Vape Circulation Licensing Will Be Regulated by Law in the Coming Months
Alexander Tolmachev, deputy chairman of the Russian State Duma Committee on Youth Policy, said the issue of licensing vape circulation will be resolved at the legislative level in the coming months. He said a significant share of such products currently on the market are counterfeit, that their real nicotine concentration may be several times higher than stated, and that the composition of the liquid is unknown.
Mar.18 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Philippine Tobacco Control Coalition Backs Raising Legal Age for Vape and Tobacco Products to 25
Philippine Tobacco Control Coalition Backs Raising Legal Age for Vape and Tobacco Products to 25
A coalition of health and child rights advocates in the Philippines said it supports Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa’s call to raise the legal age restriction for vape and tobacco products from 18 to 25. The group said scientific evidence shows that the brain of a young person continues to develop until the mid-20s, and that nicotine exposure during that period can cause lasting impairment in impulse control, learning, and mood regulation.
Mar.11 by 2FIRSTS.ai
European Commission Publishes Tobacco Control Framework Evaluation, Says Smoking and Tobacco-Related Deaths Have Declined
European Commission Publishes Tobacco Control Framework Evaluation, Says Smoking and Tobacco-Related Deaths Have Declined
The European Commission has published its evaluation of the EU tobacco control framework, assessing the effectiveness, efficiency and relevance of the Tobacco Products Directive and Tobacco Advertising Directive in protecting public health and ensuring the smooth functioning of the internal market.
Apr.03 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Study: Links between internalizing mental health symptoms and nicotine/tobacco use vary by gender identity among U.S. adolescents
Study: Links between internalizing mental health symptoms and nicotine/tobacco use vary by gender identity among U.S. adolescents
A study using 2020–2023 U.S. data from the ITC Youth Tobacco and Vaping Survey (ages 16–19) reports that both nicotine/tobacco use and internalizing mental health (IMH) symptoms vary across disaggregated gender identities, and that gender identity moderates the relationship between IMH symptoms and product use.
Feb.27 by 2FIRSTS.ai