The investigation
JUUL Labs, Inc. and VMR Products LLC filed the complaint on September 30, 2025. The Commission ordered institution on December 16, 2025, on claims 1-2, 4-7, and 9-21 of U.S. Patent 11,134,722 and claims 1-2, 4-5, and 8-18 of U.S. Patent 11,606,981, covering vaporizer devices (ENDS devices), cartridges sometimes called pods, and components. The respondents are Glas, Inc. and Glas, LLC of Los Angeles. The Office of Unfair Import Investigations did not participate.
The initial determination
According to the Commission's notice, issued October 23, 2026, the ALJ issued an initial determination on violation of section 337 and a recommended determination on remedy and bond on October 20, 2026. The recommended relief is a limited exclusion order covering Glas vaporizer devices, cartridges, and components that infringe claims 1, 5, 7, 15-16, and 18-21 of the '722 patent and claims 1, 5, and 8 of the '981 patent, and a cease and desist order directed to the Glas respondents. The initial determination is not the Commission's final determination.
Public interest submissions
The Commission invited the public and government agencies to file submissions of no more than five pages on how the recommended orders would affect public health and welfare, competitive conditions, the production of like or directly competitive articles, and U.S. consumers. Submissions are due by close of business on November 19, 2026. The notice is scheduled for Federal Register publication on October 27, 2026.
What to watch next
Watch for petitions for review of the initial determination, the Commission's decision whether to review it, and the target date for the final determination.