Australian high court OKs ban on logos on cigarette packs

Associated Press

CANBERRA, Australia

Australia’s highest court upheld the world’s toughest law on cigarette promotion today despite protests from tobacco companies that argued the value of their trademarks will be destroyed under new rules that will strip all logos from cigarette packs.

The decision by the High Court means that, starting in December, tobacco companies no longer will be able to display their distinctive colors, brand designs and logos. The packs will come in a uniformly drab shade of olive and feature graphic warnings and images of cancer- riddled mouths and blinded eyeballs.