http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/category/patents.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/05/12/nyregion/12loveny.html?scp=2&sq=cigarette&st=nyt http://tobacco.org/news/265225.html Last week, the state tourism board, Empire State Development, announced a retooled marketing campaign centered on the famed slogan and design, this time with an emphasis on gas-sipping day trips and short vacations for residents of the region. But inherent in the campaign is a drive to reclaim the symbol itself, which, like the Playboy logo, has become devalued, as marketers term it, through overuse. . . . "We have been reviewing anything found by our licensing agent," Mr. Ranese said. Undesirable products include ashtrays ($6.99) and cigarette lighters ($3.99) because the state wants to discourage smoking. New York Times Mon, 12 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.gazette.com/articles/electronic_36002___article.html/indoor_around.html http://tobacco.org/news/264860.html At least two companies are selling battery-powered cigarettes, cigars and pipes that attempt to replicate smoking without burning tobacco. The gizmos use nicotine cartridges and water vapor in what is essentially a nicotine inhaler complete with a light on the end. The invention gets around smoking bans like Colorado's, where smoking is prohibited in nearly all indoor public places. The devices are not advertised as smoking cessation products like a nicotine patch or gum but rather as a way to satisfy the nicotine craving where smoking isn't allowed. One of the companies, Minneapolisbased Ruyan America Inc., says the products "allow users to effectively simulate the physiological and psychological attributes of smoking without creating any harmful secondhand smoke." By not claiming to help people stop smoking, the companies have avoided regulation by the Food and Drug Administration. Ruyan America Inc. produces the E-cigarette while another company, Crown7, produces a similar product called the Crown7. Ruyan claims to be the inventor of the electric smoking devices and is taking on competitors in a global patent dispute, said Chief Executive Officer Alex Chong. Colorado Springs Gazette bnewsome@gazette.com (BRIAN NEWSOME THE GAZETTE) Mon, 05 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSJ%2FMGArticle%2FWSJ_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173355164744&path=!business&s=1037645507703 http://tobacco.org/news/262511.html Philip Morris USA has persuaded a U.S. agency to investigate a complaint about unauthorized Internet sales of so-called gray-market cigarettes using the Marlboro and other company names. The U.S. International Trade Commission, an agency that investigates claims of unfair trade practices, said yesterday that it would review a request by Philip Morris to bar imports of cigarettes that violate Philip Morris trademarks. The agency typically makes decisions within 15 months. The cigarettes are called gray market because they are made by Philip Morris for sale overseas Winston-Salem Journal Wed, 02 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/newstex/AFX-0013-24180409.htm http://tobacco.org/news/262384.html The US International Trade Commission (ITC) today initiated an investigation into whether several Internet-based cigarette retailers are selling imported cigarettes in the US that violate patents held by Philip Morris (NYSE:MO) USA. The ITC investigation was requested by Philip Morris in early March, and could result in an order to ban cigarettes from the US that are found to violate patents held by the company. Any order issued as a result of the ITC investigation will become final 60 days after issuance unless overturned by the US Trade Representative's office. CNN/Money pete.kasperowicz@thomson.com Tue, 01 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.chinanews.com.cn/shipin/2008-03-11/news3137.html http://tobacco.org/news/261205.html 3月11日 ，出席全国政协十一届一次会议的政协委员、中国社科院研究员安家瑶在接受记者专访时表示，国家烟草专卖局应尽快调研，停止将“中华”、“中南海”等代表民族文化形象的词语作为烟草品牌。 中国新闻网, Chinanews.com China Tue, 11 Mar 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://news.sohu.com/20080312/n255657836.shtml http://tobacco.org/news/261204.html 吸烟的危害正为更多人所熟知的时候，我国的香烟产销量却仍在持续增加。昨日，全国人大代表、盐城市疾控中心副主任沈进进走进本报两会视频直播室再谈香烟流毒。沈进进认为，国家应尽快制定《控制烟草危害法》，烟盒上的警示语至少应覆盖包装1/3面积。 搜狐, SOHU.com China Wed, 12 Mar 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://news.ifeng.com/mainland/200803/0309_17_431872.shtml http://tobacco.org/news/261071.html 如果中国履约更改香烟包装，在烟盒上明确标注香烟有害健康的文字和图像，那么，国家烟草专卖局应尽快调研，停止将“中华”、“中南海”等代表民族形象的词语作为烟草品牌。 凤凰资讯, ifeng.com legal@ifeng.com (魏铭言) China Sun, 09 Mar 2008 05:00:00 GMT http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idUSWNAS366520080305 http://tobacco.org/news/260827.html Philip Morris USA said on Wednesday it has asked the U.S. International Trade Commission to stop illegally imported cigarettes bearing PM USA's trademarks, including those of top selling Marlboro brand, from entering the United States. The action by the unit of Altria Group Inc is aimed at Internet cigarette vendors Reuters Wed, 05 Mar 2008 05:00:00 GMT http://www2.presstelegram.com/news/ci_8444323 http://tobacco.org/news/260712.html Tobacco giant Phillip Morris is suing a cigarette distributor that is accused of trying to smuggle nearly 27,000 cartons of phony Marlboros through the Port of Los Angeles. Customs officials made the discovery on Aug. 27, 2007, while examining crates of cigs being imported by New Jersey-based Nice Pak Products. The cigarette manufacturer said the lawsuit is the latest in a series of more than 25 similar legal actions targeting American companies allegedly smuggling counterfeit smokes through the nation's seaports. Long Beach Press-Telegram kristopher.hanson@presstelegram.com (Kris Hanson) Tue, 04 Mar 2008 05:00:00 GMT http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8V472PO0.htm http://tobacco.org/news/260543.html Philip Morris USA, the nation's No. 1 tobacco company, said Friday it filed a lawsuit accusing a company of importing counterfeit cigarettes and unauthorized use of the Marlboro trademark. Philip Morris filed the federal suit in U.S. District Court in California on Thursday against Nice Pak Products Inc., an Orangeburg, N.Y., company that makes pre-moistened wipes. Last August, U.S. Customs and Border Protection confiscated about 26,900 cartons of counterfeit cigarettes at the Port of Los Angeles. Nice Pak Products was listed as the importer. . . . Anthony Cerasuolo, corporate controller for Nice Pak, said a glitch caused the company's named to be tied to the paperwork. "It has nothing to do with Nice Pak whatsoever," said Cerasuolo, who added the government notified them that "it doesn't apply to us." AP Fri, 29 Feb 2008 05:00:00 GMT http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080229005584&newsLang=en http://tobacco.org/news/260542.html Philip Morris USA filed a lawsuit in federal court yesterday in the Central District of California against Nice Pak Products, Inc. of Orangeburg, N.Y. The lawsuit is aimed at stopping the importation, distribution, and sale of counterfeit cigarettes and the unauthorized use of Philip Morris USA's trademarks. This suit arises from a seizure by the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection at the Port of Los Angeles on August 24, 2007. Nice Pak Products was listed on Customs' Notice of Seizure as the importer of record of 26,900 cartons of counterfeit Marlboro® cigarettes. "Trafficking in counterfeit cigarettes is illegal, and we do not want our trademarks misused," said Charlie Whitaker, vice president, Compliance and Brand Integrity, Philip Morris USA. Business Wire Fri, 29 Feb 2008 05:00:00 GMT http://www.fayobserver.com/article?id=286287 http://tobacco.org/news/260208.html PEMBROKE -- Lumbee leaders want to stub out any idea that the tribe has ties to a new cigarette that bears its name. Lumbee cigarettes have been available in Robeson County stores since December. . . . “At this time, the Lumbee tribe is reviewing all avenues available to protect the name, identity and history of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina,” Goins said. The Lumbee cigarettes have been sold in 35 stores in Robeson County and are available in Scotland and Hoke counties as well. Coastal Distributing, a company based in Rockingham, markets the cigarettes. They are made in South America. Wayne Moss, president of Coastal Distributing, said he applied for the Lumbee trademark in September 2006. “The reason that I decided to use the name Lumbee is because a lot of Indian-related names are in the market now … and I felt that Lumbee would be a good name for this part of the country,” he said. He said he figured with the tribe’s effort to gain federal recognition “any way the name Lumbee could come up would be a plus for their campaign.” Fayetteville Observer & Times jenkinsv@fayobserver.com (Venita Jenkins Staff writer) Sat, 23 Feb 2008 05:00:00 GMT http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/008200802171223.htm http://tobacco.org/news/259893.html Tobacco will now be used for manufacturing cancer and cardiac drugs with the Central Tobacco Research Institute (CTRI) bagging the patent for 'solanesol' -- a medicinal substance extracted from tobacco. Solanesol, a white crystalline powder derived from tobacco's green leaf, has curative effects against cardiac insufficiency, muscular dystrophy, anaemia, cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma and liver injury. "Many pharmaceutical companies have approached us for carrying out clinical trials for the usage of solanesol as anti-cancer and anti-diabetic drugs," CTRI Director V Krishna Murthy told PTI. Solanesol is rich in Coenzyme Q10 -- a physiologically active substance with high pharmaceutical value. The Hindu Online India Sun, 17 Feb 2008 05:00:00 GMT http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2008/01/30/afx4590765.html http://tobacco.org/news/258847.html The EU's second-highest court has rejected Japan Tobacco Inc's appeal over the use of its Camel trademark. In 2000, Portuguese coffee manufacturer Torrefaccao Camelo applied for the registration of a trademark consisting of a picture of a camel, palm trees and pyramids for a brand of its roasted coffee. Japan Tobacco claimed this infringed its Camel cigarette trademarks as they also include a camel, palm trees and pyramids. AFX News nina.chestney@thomson.com Europe Wed, 30 Jan 2008 05:00:00 GMT http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,,2241443,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront http://tobacco.org/news/258161.html Last summer, the small British publisher and design company Tank hit on the idea of producing a range of classic books packaged like cigarettes. Abridged works and short stories by Kafka and Conrad, Tolstoy and Kipling, Hemingway and Stevenson, which looked like packs of 20 cigarettes, were duly distributed through bookshops and the Design Museum. The books, released as Tales to Take Your Breath Away at the start of the cigarette ban in pubs and restaurants last July, were well received by the design press and have made popular Christmas presents. But now the publishers are having to inhale deeply themselves as British American Tobacco (BAT) claims that one of the packs, containing Hemingway's The Snows of Kilimanjaro and The Undefeated, resembles its own Lucky Strike pack. Claiming that such an association could seriously damage the health of the brand, BAT is trying to have the works pulped. The Guardian UK Wed, 16 Jan 2008 05:00:00 GMT