Jury Finds that Reynolds Vapor Company’s Vuse Alto Infringes Altria Patents
08 Septembre 2022 - 2:21AM
Business Wire
Altria Group, Inc. (“Altria”) (NYSE: MO) said today that a jury
in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North
Carolina found that Reynolds Vapor Company’s (“Reynolds Vapor”)
Vuse Alto e-vapor product infringed three patents owned by Altria
Client Services. In deciding in favor of Altria, the jury awarded
$95,233,292 in past damages through June 30, 2022. Post-trial
proceedings will address ongoing damages through the expiration of
Altria’s patents in 2035. At trial, Altria urged the jury to find a
royalty rate of 5.25%, which the jury accepted in returning its
award of past damages.
“Patents are at the core of innovation and we take very
seriously protecting our intellectual property,” said Murray
Garnick, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Altria. “We
are pleased that the jury recognized the importance of Altria’s
innovation and the value of its patent rights.”
At issue in this case were three patents awarded to Altria
Client Services by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office based on
filings dating back to April 2015. The jury found that Reynolds
Vapor violated Altria’s patents covering the pod assembly used in
Vuse Alto.
The case is Altria Client Services vs. Reynolds Vapor Company,
et al.
Altria’s Profile
Altria has a leading portfolio of tobacco products for U.S.
tobacco consumers age 21+. Altria’s Vision by 2030 is to
responsibly lead the transition of adult smokers to a smoke-free
future (Vision). Altria is Moving Beyond Smoking™, leading the way
in moving adult smokers away from cigarettes by taking action to
transition millions to potentially less harmful choices - believing
it is a substantial opportunity for adult tobacco consumers,
Altria’s businesses and society.
Altria’s wholly owned subsidiaries include leading manufacturers
of both combustible and smoke-free products. In combustibles,
Altria owns Philip Morris USA Inc. (PM USA), the most profitable
U.S. cigarette manufacturer, and John Middleton Co. (Middleton), a
leading U.S. cigar manufacturer. Altria’s smoke-free portfolio
includes ownership of U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC (USSTC),
the leading global moist smokeless tobacco (MST) manufacturer, and
Helix Innovations LLC (Helix), a rapidly growing manufacturer of
oral nicotine pouches. Altria also enhances its smoke-free product
portfolio with exclusive U.S. commercialization rights to the IQOS
Tobacco Heating System® and Marlboro HeatSticks®, and an equity
investment in JUUL Labs, Inc. (JUUL).
Altria also owns equity investments in Anheuser-Busch InBev
SA/NV (ABI), the world’s largest brewer, and Cronos Group Inc.
(Cronos), a leading Canadian cannabinoid company. The brand
portfolios of Altria’s tobacco operating companies include
Marlboro®, Black & Mild®, Copenhagen®, Skoal® and on!®.
Trademarks and service marks related to Altria referenced in this
release are the property of Altria or its subsidiaries or are used
with permission.
Learn more about Altria at www.altria.com and follow us on
Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
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