Photograph: Shutterstock
The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has issued a decision clearing electronic-cigarette maker Juul Labs in an infringement case regarding tobacco company Altria’s Njoy e-vapor products.
“Juul Labs is pleased to announce that on March 3, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) issued a decision to terminate Altria’s patent infringement action against our company, which Altria had initiated shortly after Juul Labs commenced its own ITC action against Altria in June 2023,” Juul Labs said in a statement.
The ITC affirmed an earlier ruling by an administrative law judge on Dec. 5, that Juul Labs did not infringe either patent asserted by Altria and that this case is therefore now terminated, Juul Labs said.
Juul Labs said it previously prevailed in its own ITC action against Altria’s Njoy Ace e-cigarette product.
“On Jan. 29, the ITC issued a final determination that Altria’s Njoy Ace infringed all four patents that Juul Labs asserted against it, and issued orders prohibiting Altria and Njoy from importing and selling the infringing Ace until the patents expire in 2034 and 2037,” Juul said in a statement. “The orders are scheduled to take effect on March 31, following a two-month presidential review period.”
Altria acquired the e-vapor company Njoy, whose products are now distributed by Altria Group Distribution Co., in June 2023.
In 2023, Juul Labs filed complaints against Njoy alleging its Njoy Ace e-cigarette device infringes on several patents of Juul Labs. Altria subsidiary Njoy filed a similar complaint in 2023 against Juul Labs with the ITC.
CSP Daily News reached out to Richmond, Virginia-based Altria, but the tobacco company declined to comment.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.
