• March 6, 2008

Philip Morris USA (PM USA) has filed a complaint with the International Trade Commission (ITC) to stop illegally imported gray market cigarettes bearing PM USA's trademarks, including the Marlboro mark, from entering the United States.

"Our brands are among our company's most valuable assets, and we take many steps to protect them," said Charlie Whitaker, vice president, Compliance and Brand Integrity, Philip Morris USA.

The complaint alleges that Internet-based cigarette vendors are unfairly selling cigarettes bearing PM USA's trademarks in violation of U.S. intellectual property laws and the Lanham Act.

The complaint requests that the ITC issue a General Exclusion Order, which would require U.S. Customs & Border Protection to stop all infringing imports from entering the U.S., including infringing products sold by the 13 Web sites named as respondents in the complaint and any other Web sites engaged in similar activity. PM USA has also identified 177 additional Web sites in its complaint.

--Nina M. Lentini