Jump to full article: Convenience Store News, 2009-09-28
Intro: The International Trade Commission (ITC) last week issued a General Exclusion Order that requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to deny entry into the U.S. of illegally imported Marlboro, Virginia Slims and Parliament cigarette, which infringe on Philip Morris USA's (PM USA) trademarks, the nation's largest cigarette maker stated.
"We're pleased that the ITC granted the General Exclusion Order, which should be a helpful tool for law enforcement in addressing illicit Internet cigarette sales and reinforces that preventing these imports is a priority," Joe Murillo, vice president and associate general counsel for Altria Client Services, said in a statement on behalf of PM USA.
In March 2008, PM USA filed a complaint with the ITC to stop foreign-based Internet sellers from selling cigarettes bearing PM USA's trademarks. PM USA named 13 respondents who operate Web sites and identified an additional 177 sites that sell Marlboro and other PM USA brand cigarettes intended for sales overseas, to U.S. customers.
The ITC launched an investigation, and an administrative law judge subsequently determined the foreign Internet sellers are unlawfully importing cigarettes into the U.S., according to the statement.
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