As cigarette use slows, potential IP battles for big tobacco grow
By linking products to delivery mechanisms, firms such as Philip Morris could be opening themselves to intellectual property fights
22 June 2019 - 09:37
Zurich — Philip Morris International (PMI) is girding itself to fend off rivals that may try to piggyback on the success of its market-leading alternative to smoking.
As PMI’s IQOS has grown, competitors such as Imperial Brands have started offering sticks that can fit in the electronic devices that heat rather than burn tobacco, even though the packs say they’re designed only for the UK company’s Pulze system. In response, the Marlboro maker is preparing the next version of IQOS, which will work only with the company’s own heatsticks, according to COO Jacek Olczak...
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