Juul Wins ITC Order Blocking Rival Imports
Written April 20, 2020
The International Trade Commission (ITC) on April 7, 2020, awarded an order to Juul Labs Inc. that blocks imports from four e-cigarette rivals. Certain Cartridges for Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems and Components Thereof, USITC, No. 337–TA–1141.
Juul filed an ITC complaint in November 2018 against more than 20 companies accused of selling copycat Juul pods in the US. Juul said the pods infringed patents and targeted flavors like “Strawberry Milk” and “Berry Lemonade” to underage users.
Florida company DripTip Vapes LLC and three Chinese manufacturers—Shenzhen Haka Flavor Technology Co. Ltd., Shenzhen OCIGA Technology Co. Ltd., and Shenzhen OVNS Technology Co. Ltd.—were found in default last year after they failed to respond to Juul’s patent infringement complaint.
The ITC prohibited the companies from selling or importing into the US nicotine cartridges alleged to infringe Juul patents. The order is subject to a 60-day presidential review period.