Vape Brand VPR Brands Settles Trademark Lawsuit for $5.3M

May.10.2023
Vape Brand VPR Brands Settles Trademark Lawsuit for $5.3M
Safa Goods to pay $5.3M to VPR Brands to settle "Elf" trademark lawsuit over e-cigarettes in the US.

According to recent public information released by securities regulatory agencies, US wholesaler Safa Goods has agreed to pay VPR Brands, the manufacturer of "Elf" branded e-cigarettes, 5.3 million US dollars in order to settle a patent infringement lawsuit brought against them.


According to reports, Safa Goods is a wholesaler for the Miracle electronic cigarette products in the US. In 2022, the parent company VPR Brands of the "Elf" brand filed a lawsuit against Shenzhen Wepowerloy Technology Co., Ltd., Imiracle Ltd., and other companies, alleging that they infringed on the "Elf" brand trademark.


According to court records, one of the defendants, company "Ai Qi Ji" produced and sold disposable e-cigarettes called "Elfbar", which infringed upon VPR's registered trademark "Elf" in the e-cigarette industry. The initial court ruling found in favor of VPR and issued a preliminary injunction against Shenzhen Wei Bolili, preventing them from marketing or selling disposable e-cigarettes under the name "Elfbar".


Following a preliminary ruling based on legislation, Weipoli changed the name of "Elfbar" to "EBDesign" and continued marketing and sales activities in the United States. However, VPR claims that some defendants have violated the injunction, including retail distribution company Safa Goods, which distributes Elfbar products.


Safa Goods has agreed to pay $5.3 million to VPR within 18 months, and $50,000 to the plaintiff's attorney firm Sriplaw PA.


Although the settlement with VPR marks the end of Safa Goods' lawsuit, litigation between VPR and other defendants is still ongoing.


Reference:


A manufacturer of vaping products has reached a settlement of $5.3 million with a wholesaler in a legal dispute involving the trademark for the film "Elf.


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.

FDA Rolls Out Online PMTA Platform, a Move That 2Firsts Analysts Say Could Pull Grey-Market Products Toward Formal Compliance
FDA Rolls Out Online PMTA Platform, a Move That 2Firsts Analysts Say Could Pull Grey-Market Products Toward Formal Compliance
FDA’s launch of a web-based PMTA system signals faster reviews and, 2Firsts experts say, a possible inflection point for the U.S. e-cigarette market’s shift out of the grey zone.
Dec.04
Swedish Match to Revamp ZYN Lineup, Discontinue Four Nicotine Pouch Products in 2026
Swedish Match to Revamp ZYN Lineup, Discontinue Four Nicotine Pouch Products in 2026
According to Swedish Match’s website, the company plans to discontinue four ZYN nicotine pouch products in 2026, spanning different flavors and strength variants, and is directing consumers to existing substitute options.
Dec.19 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Turkey Plans to Ban E-Cigarette Advertising Under Revised Commercial Advertising Rules
Turkey Plans to Ban E-Cigarette Advertising Under Revised Commercial Advertising Rules
Turkey is advancing amendments to its Regulation on Commercial Advertising and Unfair Commercial Practices, proposing stricter controls on e-cigarette and gambling advertising.
Dec.26 by 2FIRSTS.ai
PMI reshuffles South Africa leadership, appoints first female general manager
PMI reshuffles South Africa leadership, appoints first female general manager
Philip Morris International (PMI) said it has appointed Buena Barnes as general manager of its South Africa business, marking the first time a woman has held the role in the country. Barnes previously oversaw finance for Sub-Saharan Africa and has worked at GlaxoSmithKline South Africa and British American Tobacco South Africa.
Jan.19 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Bangkok Police Bust Illegal E-Cigarette Warehouse, Seize Vapes Worth Over $112,000
Bangkok Police Bust Illegal E-Cigarette Warehouse, Seize Vapes Worth Over $112,000
Thai police raided an illegal e-cigarette warehouse, arrested a man accused of selling vapes online, and seized a large quantity of improperly imported products worth more than 4 million baht (about $112,000).
Dec.25 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Tajikistan Signals Plan to Ban Use, Production and Circulation of E-Cigarettes
Tajikistan Signals Plan to Ban Use, Production and Circulation of E-Cigarettes
According to Kazinform, Tajikistan addressed the issue of electronic cigarettes during the fourth session of the Majlisi Milli, stating a position to prohibit the use, production, and circulation of e-cigarettes. Chairman Rustam Emomali emphasized that the position aims to protect public health and prevent negative impacts on youth and adolescents.
Dec.16 by 2FIRSTS.ai