Disposable-lighter manufacturer BIC has secured a $1 million statutory damages award and a permanent injunction in a trademark infringement case involving counterfeit pocket lighters, the company said Tuesday.
In the lawsuit, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California ruled that Mahide Rahman willfully used BIC’s trademarks to sell illegal counterfeit lighters.
Public corporate records identify Rahman as the managing member of Nevada-based PMS Distribution LLC, doing business as MS Wholesale. BIC said it filed the lawsuit in October 2024 after months of investigation uncovered counterfeit BIC-branded lighters at warehouses in California and New York that were intended for distribution nationwide.
“The outcome in this case reinforces the strength of BIC’s intellectual property rights and should send a clear deterrent message to the market,” said Laura Quintano, general counsel for North America at BIC. “After more than 50 years, BIC's iconic pocket lighter has become widely recognized and respected by consumers, who trust BIC’s consistent high quality and unyielding commitment to safety. BIC will continue to aggressively take action against any parties involved in producing, importing, distributing, or selling counterfeit BIC products.”
In 2025, BIC filed additional lawsuits in U.S. federal courts to stop the sale of counterfeit BIC pocket lighters.
The company said lawsuits were filed against defendants in multiple states, including New York, Georgia and Texas, with asset seizures executed in multiple locations.
Court-ordered seizures of counterfeit products bearing BIC’s registered trademarks were executed in partnership with law enforcement at Gandhi Wholesale in Georgia and at another large wholesaler in New York in a filing that is still under seal, the company said.
At Gandhi Wholesale, in addition to the seizure of documents and over 57,000 counterfeit lighters, multiple bank accounts were also frozen.
Orders for asset seizures at the New York-based wholesaler included the seizure of over 8,000 additional counterfeit lighters and multiple bank accounts, BIC said.
Defendants named in additional lawsuits related to counterfeit activity, or other unlawful trade practices in connection with BIC’s registered trademarks, include four wholesalers: Lev Trading (New York), G&A Distribution (New York), Mass Discount Merchandizer (Texas) and United Wholesale (Texas). Nearly 100 cease and desist orders have also been issued, BIC said.
“Any entity involved in the manufacture, importation,or distribution of counterfeit BIC products should expect heightened scrutiny, decisive legal action and significant financial consequences,” said Quintano.
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