BT buying e cig maker?

[Scottbee]

Aside from that if you ask any intellectual properties lawyer having a patent or trademark is one thing, having an enforcable one is something else completely, and enforcing it is a whole different game altogether...

Actually, I have read the patent on the PV (which I mentioned earlier), and it's a pretty good embodiment patent application. I didn't research prior art to see if there were conflicts with other existing and enforceable patents... but on its own, the Ruyan application is quite good and covers most of the PV technology that we are familiar with. For the most part the KR808D-1 design would probably be exempt from most bulleted claims.. but there would still be some minor encroachment.

And it would appear that Ruyan has been pretty good about enforcing and licensing the patent in China (where running rogue is rampant). I don't believe it has been really tested in the U.S. though.

[ladyraj]

The original post was by a very prolific author (Tiffany Ellis) of numerous e-cig articles via a PR site and a PR/distributor for E-Cigarettes National. The link supplied is to a stock tip site Quamnet.com Thus, the info has not been verified and may be mere rumor.

[General Idea]

It's not BT making all the money...it's the government.

Here is a breakdown of a pack of smokes in my State and where the funds are going. Keep in mind that our State and Federal government is BROKE!

My smokes cost: $4.50 Per pack

State excise tax: $1.25
Fed Tax: $1.01
MSA Trust: $ .84 (4.2 cents per cigarette sold)
Sales Tax: $ .34 (7.5%)
---------
Total Tax: $3.44

Ciggies cost: $4.50 minus tax to state and feds of $3.44 leaves $1.06 for the tobacco companies. Please keep in mind I have not included the retail mark-up in the above numbers and therefore the tobacco companies are making less than a dollar per pack. It's the State and Federal Government that are making the big bucks from tobacco smokers.

Therefore, a safe prediction for the treatment of the e-cig would be the government regulating heavy taxation via the cost of the e-cig to fund a campaign against your ability to purchase and use an e-cig.

It's a shell game...follow the dollars and the government wins.

I'm in PA, we just saw an average $.40/pack increase in tax last Sunday. Our state budget is way out of whack so Gov. Rendell Jacked up tobacco taxes to try to pick up the slack. It's been a boon to local ecig sales. They are planning to legalize table games to further reduce the state deficit.

I'm surprised the Federal govt isn't planning on funding universal healthcare with a tobacco tax.

I think taxation of eliquid would be tough. We'd probably see a lot of growth in DIY eliquid, they won't tax PG or VG, but raw nicotine?
I think it would take some major legislation to put a tax on the ecig too.
It is a legitimate fear with Philip Morris involved though, as it would give a voice to the good old boy network.

[Joliet]

I think this could be a good thing; in that, currently, no one knows the future of the PV or vaping in general. For all we know, it could be gone tomorrow. It sure came that close to that situation in California. If Altria were to react to this vaping scene by negotiating business with an e-cig producer, this may give smaller companies leverage. Meaning, Altria will have the funding to produce evidence and research required by federal regulators and the sorts. Right? Who wants to fight BT anyway! They've got top notch lawyers to prove they're right, almost 99.9% of the time. My $0.02 anyways...

[mtndude]

News Article from July 6

Ruyan Group said that an agreement between the Company and Philip Morris International Management S.A. could not be
reached on matters relating to the co-operation between them on its "electronic cigarettes" by the end of the first and exclusive
phase of negotiations.

Ruyan said it will continue to negotiate with Philip Morris on the proposed transaction and the company will commence discussions and negotiations on
similar collaborations with other tobacco manufacturers.

[General Idea]

News Article from July 6

And the bull and the matador make it through the first pass. whew...

[IANAN]

PM's patent states:



No idea what that is....

RUYAN's is still an application, not approved, and very vague...

If anything it would only cover a specific 3 piece design.

Aside from that if you ask any intellectual properties lawyer having a patent or trademark is one thing, having an enforcable one is something else completely, and enforcing it is a whole different game altogether...

I don't see them being able to sue NJoy if it wasn't approved.

[IANAN]

I'm in PA, we just saw an average $.40/pack increase in tax last Sunday. Our state budget is way out of whack so Gov. Rendell Jacked up tobacco taxes to try to pick up the slack. It's been a boon to local ecig sales. They are planning to legalize table games to further reduce the state deficit.

I'm surprised the Federal govt isn't planning on funding universal healthcare with a tobacco tax.

Many states fund Medicaid right now with tobacco taxes.

[sherid]

A mainstream PM owned/designed ecig would make me worry.

I don't think they are looking to stop the trend by buying in. They've been banking on the addictive quality of nicotine for quite some time. I would NEVER trust their eliquids though - they would find special CRACK additives to keep you coming back to their brand.

Imagine a real marlboro juice, branded and all. Heck, they could afford take a loss and give everyone in America a disposable ecig and update their mailing list while their at it.

This is a very natural move in a lot of ways - the FDA recently banned flavored cigarettes and I'll bet their marketing people are stoked with the new potential.

This I do not understand. You don't trust BT to produce e liquids, but you do trust an unknown source in China with absolutely no regulations?

[CHUCKLEHEAD]

I'm not worried about e-liquid. I think we will always be able to find a source for liquid.

Finding a source for decent attys... that's another story!

Thats why i now have 95 510 attys