Editor’s Note: Protection of trademarks is an essential component of the national and global effort against counterfeit tobaco and tobacco-related products. In the letter attached below, National Tobacco Company informs Congress that a long-standing and distinguished trademark, ZIG-ZAG®, is under assault from counterfeiters and gray market (unauthorized) imports.
The letter to Congress explains that counterfeiting of ZIG-ZAG® products has been used to finance a foreign terrorist organization and the counterfeiters’ close links to criminal activities was revealed by the federal government’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. National Tobacco’s letter further demonstrates that the counterfeiting and unauthorized importation of trademark tobacco products is a danger to all Americans.
