WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Reynolds Innovations Inc., a subsidiary of Reynolds American Inc.'s R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., recently reached a settlement in a trademark infringement dispute with an electronic cigarette marketer that was selling products under the Camel and Salem brand names, reported The Business Journal of the Greater Triad Area.
According to a June 10 judgment in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina cited by the newspaper, Reynolds filed a complaint in April alleging that defendant John Thompson of Browns Mills, N.J., had infringed on its brands by advertising, selling and distributing liquid nicotine products under or bearing the Camel and Salem names. Reynolds has used the Camel trademark for 100 years and not just for traditional cigarettes. Reynolds has used the Salem name for 57 years in connection with tobacco products including cigarettes.
As part of the settlement, Thompson is expected to pay an undisclosed amount of money to Reynolds.
In May, R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co. began selling its new Vuse digital vapor cigarette at Tarheel Tobacco stores in Clemmons and Winston-Salem, N.C., and in Danville, Va. It rolled out Vuse in Colorado on July 1.
In November 2012, Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Reynolds filed a lawsuit against e-cigarette maker SAS Technologies, accusing the company of infringing on its Camel and Winston brands, reported The Business Journal. SAS Technologies does business as SaveASmoker.com and promotes and sells flavored liquid nicotine products for use with its MaxxVapor Pro e-cigarettes.
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