On the occasion of "World Intellectual Property Day" on April 26, the world's leading vaping brands emphasize ELFBAR and LOST MARY reaffirm their commitment to combating counterfeit products and imitations. "Protecting intellectual property is not just about safeguarding our brands; our primary focus is on the well-being of adult consumers," explains Victor Xiao, Global Vice President of ELFBAR and LOST MARY, and further explains: "Because illegal vapes, including counterfeit and imitation products, pose serious risks such as unknown ingredients and inferior manufacturing processes that endanger consumer safety."
Consistent implementation of global measures
ELFBAR The organization not only issues warnings but also takes concrete action in the fight against illegal vaping devices. This includes measures such as disrupting the global supply chain for counterfeit products, identifying counterfeit products on the market, advocating for consistent enforcement of regulations, removing online listings for infringing products, and enforcing intellectual property rights through legal and arbitration proceedings. As a result, approximately 50,000 counterfeit vaping devices have been seized worldwide in recent months. ELFBAR- and LOST MARY products will be confiscated.
Often, it is also possible to Identifying fake vapes by their taste, if the aroma differs from the original.
Border traffic between Germany and the Czech Republic in focus
Illegal products are also a focus of local law enforcement. Particularly in the border region between the Czech Republic and Germany, close cooperation between police and customs authorities has led to the identification of more than 30 individuals involved in the production of counterfeit goods. ELFBAR They distributed the products. According to investigators, the illegal vapes were specifically tailored to the German market, as the instructions on the packaging had been carefully translated into German.
Enormous tax losses in Germany alone
One Survey by the industry association BftG This shows that illegal vapes account for an estimated 40% of the total vaping market share in Germany. The losses caused by illegal products are alarming: In the period from the beginning of January 2024 to mid-April 2025 alone, approximately 2.3 million illegal product units resulted in tax losses of €4,867,640. These figures are based on reports from customs authorities published in the media and likely represent only the tip of the iceberg. Nationwide, the highest concentration of illegal vapes is found in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Property rights remain the focus
Since 2024 ELFBAR and LOST MARY International has filed over 30 civil lawsuits for intellectual property infringement. These lawsuits demonstrate the brands' determination to defend their intellectual property rights and protect consumers. fraudulent and inferior products to protect.ELFBAR and LOST MARY continue to work closely with global authorities to combat counterfeit and illegal products, while urging adult consumers worldwide to check products before buying them. to verify and authenticate", appeals Victor Xiao.
Legal victory against trademark infringement "ELF PRO"
With regard to pending legal disputes, ELFBAR They recently achieved a concrete success. On April 9, 2025, the Düsseldorf Regional Court ruled in favor of ELFBAR and found that "ELF PRO" has a sufficient degree of similarity to "ELFA PRO", the best-selling pod system product in Germany, and that this could lead to confusion among consumers.The court thus upheld the civil suit for trademark infringement by ELFBAR Instead, an entrepreneur from Munich used the trademark "ELF PRO" to label his e-cigarettes. This case concerning the protection of the "ELFA PRO" trademark is the latest in a series of blatant infringements of intellectual property rights. ELFBAR and LOST MARY.
Appeal to consumers and politicians
ELFBAR LOST MARY and [the company] continue to advocate for the protection of intellectual property rights and proactively combat these violations. "The illegal trade in e-cigarettes poses a serious threat to public health, undermines youth protection, and leads to significant tax losses that ultimately burden society as a whole. We urge German politicians to take decisive action against the illegal e-cigarette market by providing customs authorities with better personnel and structural resources to protect citizens' health and ensure the integrity of the legal market," appeals Victor Xiao.
