THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Tobacco companies have begun a court challenge against Australia's plain packaging legislation in a test case that is being keenly watched in Britain and around the world.
Under laws that come into effect this December, Australia will become the world's first country to require cigarettes to be sold in drab olive packets with graphic health warnings and no logos. But the move has faced heavy resistance from giant tobacco companies which have flagged numerous challenges and are keen to avoid the adoption of similar measures in countries such as Britain, Canada and New Zealand.
In a High Court case that began today in Canberra before a full bench of seven judges, the world's largest tobacco companies are claiming the laws unlawfully extinguish the value of their trademarks without providing compensation.
Japan Tobacco International and British American Tobacco Australia argued they should be compensated for the loss of their trademarks. Philip Morris and Imperial Tobacco are likely to repeat the call. » | Jonathan Pearlman, Sydney | Tuesday, April 07, 2012
