Philip Morris sues over Internet cigarette sales

Yahoo News ^ | 23 September 2002

[SheLion]

NEW YORK -- Philip Morris Cos. filed unfair-competition lawsuits against certain Internet cigarette sellers, alleging the defendants are violating the company's trademarks.
The eight suits, filed in U.S. District Courts in California and New York, allege the defendants are violating federal and state laws by misusing Philip Morris' trademarks to attract Internet users to their Web sites, the tobacco company said Monday. The company alleges its trademarks, including Marlboro, have been illegally used in Internet addresses, company names and promotional materials.

The suits also allege that many Internet vendors sell cigarettes without complying with laws regarding excise-tax payments, while claiming that their products are tax exempt.

Philip Morris also said many Internet cigarette vendors don't have appropriate mechanisms to verify the age of purchasers and could hinder efforts to prevent youth smoking.

The suits name as defendants the owners or operators of the following Web sites: Cheapmarlboro.com, Discountcigs.homestead.com, Discountcigarettes.cjb.net, Discount-marlboro-cigarettes.com, Dutyfree- cigarettes.com, Dfshop.org, Europecigarettes.com, Freefags.com, Smokefarm.com, Smokeplanet.com, Smoke.shop4all.net, Yesmoke.com and 18orless.com.

Philip Morris said it expects to file additional lawsuits against other parties engaged in what the company alleges is the illegal sale and promotion of its brands on the Internet.

-Susan Willetts; Newswires; 201-938-5400; and Diana Rosenberg; Dow Jones Newswires; 609-520-7817

[Great Dane]

Off Topic a little, I just got a response to my e-mail to New York City council....... anyone else. ?

[metesky]

It appears that PM is only interested in seeing that we pay the enourmous tax increases and raised cigarette prices so that we, the smokers, are paying off their (PMs) stab in the back to their loyal customers.

Pressure must be brought to bear on them in one way or another or from many angles at once.

I'm sick of it.

I'm nobody's pratboy.

Are you?

Any ideas here?

[SheLion]

Off Topic a little, I just got a response to my e-mail to New York City council....... anyone else. ?

I haven't heard anything. What did they tell you? Same old chit?

[SheLion]

It appears that PM is only interested in seeing that we pay the enourmous tax increases and raised cigarette prices so that we, the smokers, are paying off their (PMs) stab in the back to their loyal customers.

Total boycott of everything Phillip Morris sells. From cigarettes to Kraft Cheese.

What gripes me, is if they hadn't fallen down for the AG's, no one would be in this mess. Now they are still hammering the smokers! I'd say this company needs to GO!

[Madame Dufarge]

They are the cig. Company that drives the car in the industry, and they are trying to outlaw ANY cig. signage and advertising because they know they are at the top.

Exactly. Aren't they also pushing for FDA regulation of tobacco? Guess who'll be a the top of the heap there too, the government-approved provider.

Screw Philip Morris. I say start a campaign in Maine to boycott Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. The company will fold in a week.

[SheLion]

Exactly. Aren't they also pushing for FDA regulation of tobacco? Guess who'll be a the top of the heap there too, the government-approved provider.

PM is trying to stick it to their customers who smoke every which way!

Smoke screen

Why does Philip Morris suddenly want the FDA to regulate cigarettes?

July 25 — Philip Morris, the nation’s largest cigarette manufacturer and historically a leading opponent of tobacco regulation, has broken with the rest of the industry and is embracing the government intervention it has spent decades fighting.

[KS Flyover]

Good grief! Philip Morris has not only crawled into bed with the Federal Government, they're married to them.

The boycott is on!

[SheLion]

Good grief! Philip Morris has not only crawled into bed with the Federal Government, they're married to them!

Something funny going on with this, KS! Don't you agree?

[KS Flyover]

I definitely agree. There's some kind of back room dealing going on.

[SheLion]

I definitely agree. There's some kind of back room dealing going on.

Someone just emailed me about this. Told me that PM is just suing the Internet Sites that are using their LOGO to attract buyers to their sites. I overlooked that.

Using Logo's are illegal, I realize that, and I think it's pretty dumb if someone does us the PM Logo. I can understand this, then. But they make so much more out of it. And I still think there IS a lot more to this.

[Great Dane]

The suits also allege that many Internet vendors sell cigarettes without complying with laws regarding excise-tax payments, while claiming that their products are tax exempt.

As I understand it, it's legal to sell tax free via web, as long as you don't buy more than two cartons at a time.

[Great Dane]

If big tobacco think so little of their product, why in hel. don't they shut their production down.

[July 4th]

I just checked out the yesmoke.com website. No wonder the cig companies are pissed. They're selling Marlboro cartons for $14.95 shipped! I don't smoke, but I have friends who do. They'll be hearing about this tonight.

[Great Dane]

I haven't heard anything. What did they tell you? Same old chit?

Yes, same old, I will forward it to you by e-mail.

[SheLion]

Yes, same old, I will forward it to you by e-mail.

Ok, great. I'd like to read it.

[John W]

I've bought from them once a month for a couple months.Five carton limit,on the side of the Marlboro Lights box it reads:Made under authority of Philip Morris Products S.A. Neuchatel Switzerland.So,I think PM is getting thier money.But,Frank O' Bannon et al,aren't getting what they think is their money.

[July 4th]

I think the feel on this thread is right - something smells funny here. I initially thought that the reason the cig companies are suing was because people were buying their products from parts of the world with lower before-tax prices. (Cigarette arbitrage, if you will.) But the fact is, they're still selling a load of cigarettes. It's the states who should be suing here, but instead PM has filed the lawsuit.

[KS Flyover]

Check out this thread:

Philip Morris Tries To Smoke The Web

[xp38]

Get one of those cig machines and roll your own.

[Great Dane]

Get one of those cig machines and roll your own.

Better yet, grow our own, choke the life out of big tobacco.