Philip Morris Loses Bid To Register E-Cigarette Patent In Korea

(Source: Philip Morris International)

Philip Morris Products SA has failed to register a patent for its e-cigarette technology in South Korea, following a decision by the country's Intellectual Property Trial and Appeal Board (IPTAB).

In a ruling issued in March 2025, the IPTAB dismissed the company's appeal of a rejected patent application titled "Power Management Method and System for a Battery Powered Aerosol-Generating Device" (Application No. KR1020247017133). The patent was originally filed in March 2018 with the Korean Intellectual Property Office, but the application was ultimately refused.

Philip Morris challenged the rejection in December 2024 by filing a trial for appeal, but the IPTAB upheld the examiner's decision, rejecting the company's arguments. The company may still seek to overturn the decision by filing an administrative lawsuit with the Korean Patent Court.

The application describes a power management method for battery-powered aerosol-generating devices, including e-cigarettes, inhalable medical devices, and other personal-use aerosol systems. According to Philip Morris, the invention is designed to quickly supply power to a heating element while maintaining the minimum voltage required for stable operation of key electronic components such as microcontrollers (MCUs). 

The technology aims to prevent device malfunctions caused by voltage drops during initial activation, particularly under low-temperature battery conditions. The application states that the system includes circuits and algorithms to dynamically control voltage and current delivery to ensure reliable performance.

By PatenTrip