#London #United Kingdom #ELFBAR #LOST MARY #anti-counterfeit

ELFBAR and LOST MARY's Strong Stand Against Counterfeit Products

In a compelling update, world-renowned vaping brands ELFBAR and LOST MARY have announced significant milestones in their ongoing campaign against counterfeit and imitation products. The two companies aim not only to safeguard their intellectual property rights but also to protect adult users from low-quality and fraudulent vape products. Victor Xiao, the global vice president of both brands, emphasized the crucial nature of this initiative, stating, "Protecting our intellectual property rights goes beyond safeguarding our brands; it is our duty as an industry to protect users from fakes and imitations."

Counterfeit products pose a serious threat to consumer safety, often containing untested ingredients and failing to meet quality standards. In an effort to curb this rising issue, ELFBAR and LOST MARY have employed an interdisciplinary, multi-layered strategy across multiple global markets. Through identifying counterfeit products in retail channels, enforcing intellectual property rights through litigation, and disrupting counterfeit supply chains, both brands have made a considerable impact on reducing the prevalence of imitation products in the market.

Global Crackdown on Counterfeit Vapes

The cooperative effort to combat counterfeiting has surged since September 2022, with both brands working closely with law enforcement authorities. Recent operations have yielded incredible results, with at least 50,000 counterfeit ELFBAR and LOST MARY products seized across various countries, including the Czech Republic, Germany, Russia, and South Africa. One notable operation discovered over 30 retailers in Germany and the Czech Republic distributing counterfeit ELFBAR products on the border, a result of the strong collaboration between the brands and local police and customs authorities.

This case reflects the alarming scale of counterfeiting, yet it represents just a small fraction of the ongoing efforts by ELFBAR and LOST MARY to combat imitation products.

Legal Actions Against Infringement

Litigation has played an essential role in reinforcing the determination of both brands to defend their intellectual property. Since 2024, they have initiated over 30 civil lawsuits for infringement across various markets, including Mainland China and Germany. Recently, a German court ruled in favor of ELFBAR against a Munich-based company using the name "ELFPRO," deeming it likely to cause confusion with the established ELFBAR brand.

In addition to proactive litigation, the two brands have successfully resolved 119 domain name disputes through arbitration, achieving favorable outcomes for each case at both the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre and the World Intellectual Property Organization. They have also managed to remove nearly 300 links to illicit web pages globally, including eliminating two copied websites in the United States that sold counterfeit products.

ELFBAR has repeatedly stated that products bearing its brand in the United States are not manufactured, shipped, or authorized by the brand. Since ceasing all product deliveries to the United States in February 2023, counterfeit and imitation products have flooded the market, particularly harmful for eager consumers seeking genuine products.

Disrupting the Counterfeit Supply Chain

Since launching their anti-counterfeiting campaign in June 2021, ELFBAR and LOST MARY have persistently collaborated with global authorities to fight against counterfeit products. In 2024 alone, they supported global law enforcement efforts that resulted in the closure of 15 clone factories and seizure of over 90,000 counterfeit vapes. This cooperation has enabled a thorough disruption of the counterfeit supply chain, targeting material suppliers, distributors, and logistic service providers to intercept counterfeit products at every stage of their life cycle.

A multi-agency raid in Vietnam in June 2024 highlighted the brands' commitment to this cause, leading to the seizure of over 160,000 vapes, including many counterfeit LOST MARY products.

Victor Xiao concluded, "Intellectual property rights are crucial, but the welfare of our adult users when choosing risk-reduction products is paramount. While we encourage adult users worldwide to authenticate products before use and report suspicious products and business practices, ELFBAR and LOST MARY remain steadfast in our commitment to work with global authorities to combat counterfeiting and imitation products."

About ELFBAR and LOST MARY

ELFBAR has been a pioneering entity in the global vaping industry since its inception in 2018, focusing on delivering diverse vaping experiences with innovation at the forefront. The brand is committed to preventing youth access to tobacco and sustaining itself as a preferred brand among millions of adult smokers and ex-smokers worldwide. For more information, visit elfbar.com.

LOST MARY is a global innovator in the vaping sector, dedicated to value delivery, trend creation, and quality assurance. Established in over 50 markets, the brand has gained millions of users and owns over 200 global patents. More information is available at lostmary.com.