"As a dance is only meaningful when danced, so a trademark is only meaningful when used"

[barryqwalsh]

“In the run up to that – tobacco companies sent threatening letters to the Irish government …. with Philip Morris international claiming the laws infringe its trademark.”

Philip Morris is a global American cigarette and tobacco company. The show quoted a letter from the company to Ireland which stated:
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Ireland s plain packaging laws got a mention on American TV last night

 

[barryqwalsh]

The following article is from 2011, what was the outcome? It the legal action still going on?

Philip Morris sues over Australian plans to ban logos from cigarette packets

The tobacco giant Philip Morris has launched legal action against the Australian government over the country’s plans to strip company logos from cigarette packages and replace them with grisly images of cancerous mouths, sickly children and bulging, blinded eyes.

The government believes the rules will make the packages less attractive to smokers and turn Australia into the world’s toughest country on tobacco advertising. Several cigarette makers have threatened lawsuits, arguing the move illegally diminishes the value of their trademarks. Philip Morris is the first to file a claim for compensation.

“We would anticipate that the compensation would amount to billions,” said a Philip Morris spokeswoman, Anne Edwards.

Philip Morris sues over Australian plans to ban logos from cigarette packets.


Philip Morris sues over Australian plans to ban logos from cigarette packets Australia news The Guardian

 

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