Netherlands: Fontem Ventures and Nicoventures Settle Patent Dispute

Source from:  Tobacco Journal 03/13/2016

Fontem Ventures, the Imperial Brands unit that holds patents developed by e-cigarette pioneer Hon Lik, announced a settlement of its patent dispute with British American Tobacco's Nicoventures.

Fontem granted Nicoventures Holdings a non-exclusive licence for e-vapour technology patents for an undisclosed sum. It was the latest in a series of settlements with vaping companies including Spark Industries, Ballantyne Brands, Electronic Cigarettes International and NJoy.

Based in the Netherlands, Fontem Ventures markets the vaping brand Blu as a result of the deal in which Imperial Brands acquired some Lorillard products in the Reynolds American takeover of the former US tobacco company. UK-based Nicoventures, founded by BAT in 2011, manufactures the e-cigarette Vype. Hon Lik, also known as Han Li, teamed up with Fontem Ventures in 2013 after Fontem acquired his vaping technologies from the Hon company, Dragonite International.

"With our good standing in the market, we are able to cope with the challenges of the future. We are looking forward to an exciting year 2016," says Marbach. Enditem