Philip Morris Sees Vape Patent Nixed After Cutting It From Trial

Philip Morris Products S.A. saw one of its vape cartridge patents invalidated by an administrative tribunal Thursday after the tobacco giant agreed not to assert the patent against competitor R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co. in district court litigation.

The Patent Trial and Appeal Board ruled Thursday that all of the US Patent No. 10,555,556 claims challenged by Reynolds are obvious in light of previous inventions.

Philip Morris previously asserted the ‘556 patent in a lawsuit accusing Reynolds’ Vuse Solo, Vibe, Ciro, and Alto e-cigarette devices of infringement, but the company agreed to drop it from the case on the eve of ...