Lawsuit Filed by Altria Group Against Juul for E-Vapor Patent Violation

Altria Group, the parent company of Marlboro, has taken legal action against Juul Labs, a company it previously held a significant stake in, for patent infringement on certain e-vapor products. The lawsuit was filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission, alleging that Juul’s devices and pods violate NJOY’s owned patents. Altria is calling for a ban on the importation and sale of these Juul products.

“Protecting our intellectual property is crucial to achieving our Vision,” stated Altria General Counsel Murray Garnick in a release. “JUUL has infringed upon our patents through the sale of its imported products, and we ask the ITC to impose appropriate remedies in response to these trade violations.”

Altria acquired full global ownership of NJOY’s e-vapor product portfolio in June, including the FDA-approved NJOY ACE. The purchase was valued at approximately $2.75 billion.

In response to the lawsuit, Juul spokespersons expressed their commitment to defending their intellectual property and pursuing their own infringement claims.

In addition to the ITC lawsuit, Altria has also filed a similar suit against Juul in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware.

Prior to its acquisition of NJOY, Altria severed ties with Juul due to a significant decrease in the value of its stake amid Juul’s legal troubles.

In 2018, Altria’s investment in Juul was valued at $12.8 billion. However, by March, before Altria’s divestment, the stake was only worth $250 million, as reported by Reuters.

Juul has faced numerous legal challenges in recent years, with several states filing lawsuits against the company for deceptive marketing practices and failure to inform users about the risks of its products.