Tobacco firms launch a legal challenge against plain packaging

Four of the world's largest tobacco companies have today mounted a legal challenge against the UK government regarding the plain packaging law. The companies Philip Morris International, British American Tobacco, Imperial Tobacco and Japan Tobacco International say that the plain packaging requirement will unlawfully take away their trademark intellectual property and prevent them from distinguishing their brand from the competition. Japan Tobacco's barrister said that sales from these four companies contributed £10bn in excise duty to the Treasury every year.