Philip Morris Sues Australia Over Cigarette Plain Packs

Since Australia passed legislation that will force tobacco companies to sell all of their products in brand name-free, plain green packaging with such heartwarming statements as “Smoking causes blindness” or “Don’t let children breathe your smoke” (and are accompanied by equally pleasant images), tobacco companies have been in a bit of snit.

On Tuesday, Philip Morris Asia became the third tobacco giant, along with British American Tobacco and Imperial Tobacco, to file suit in the country’s High Court to try and put a stop to such an effort, Reuters reports.

The new legislation in Australia “is being closely watched by governments considering similar moves in Europe, Canada, and New Zealand,” Reuters notes, which is part of the reason why the tobacco companies are getting all worked up about it. But Philip Morris claims it has other reasons as well.

"We believe plain packaging violates the Australian Constitution because the Government is seeking to acquire our property without paying compensation," Philip Morris spokesman Chris Argent said in a statement, according to Reuters.

The Australian government, of course, is not backing down without a fight. "Big tobacco just can't give up their addiction to legal action," said Australia’s Attorney General Nicola Roxon, according to Reuters.

"They have fought governments tooth and nail around the world for decades to stop tobacco control," she continued. "Big tobacco is fighting against the government for one very simple reason — because it knows...that plain packaging will work. While it is fighting to protect its profits, we are fighting to protect lives."