
BBK Tobacco & Foods, maker of Raw rolling papers, said it has successfully secured a legal victory with an award exceeding $8.7 million against entities responsible for manufacturing, importing, and distributing counterfeit products that imitated Raw's packaging.
The ruling was handed down by the United States District Court for the District of Nevada on Dec. 17, 2024. The court awarded BBK more than $3 million in disgorged profits from the defendants and more than $5.6 million in statutory damages for copyright violations concerning BBK’s packaging designs.
“We have dedicated our lives to making the best rolling products on the planet. Our customers are our family. We can’t let anyone willfully trick our family into buying something that isn’t genuine Raw,” said Josh Kesselman, creator of Raw. “Whether it’s a counterfeit or a look-alike, we must protect our family from that sort of awful deception. We all deserve better, and we all get higher together!”
The lawsuit centered on products sold under the “Brocone” brand, which were manufactured in India by Brocone Organic Private Limited. These products not only copied BBK’s RAW packaging designs, but also replicated the exact language from BBK’s packaging. In September 2023, BBK reached a stipulated injunction and judgment in a confidential settlement with NEPA Wholesale Inc., the primary U.S. distributor of the “Brocone” products. Litigation continued against Brocone Organic Private Limited, its U.S. importer, AIMS Group USA Corporation, and another distributor, Florida One Wholesale, Inc., culminating in the December 2024 judgement.
This victory marks the conclusion of a two-year effort by BBK to safeguard its trademarks and copyrights against blatant counterfeiting. BBK remains committed to defending its intellectual property and ensuring the authenticity of its products for its loyal customers worldwide.