We here at Beard Bros Pharms reached out to the founder of RAW, Josh Kesselman, to gather his thoughts on the recent court decision. Here’s what he had to say about the matter.
“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. 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!” – Josh Kesselman, RAW founder
This victory marks the end of a more than two-year effort to protect BBK’s trademarks.
PHOENIX, Ariz., – BBK Tobacco & Foods, dba HBI Innovations, a leading global provider of high-quality rolling papers, cones and smoking innovations, 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 BBK’s iconic RAW® rolling paper 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 over $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.
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.
About HBI Innovations
RAW Rolling Papers, founded by Josh Kesselman in 2004, transformed the rolling paper industry by introducing unbleached, chemical-free, and vegan-friendly papers. Kesselman’s journey began in the early ’90s with Knuckleheads, a Gainesville, Florida smoke shop specializing in rare European rolling papers. Following a legal setback in 1996, he pivoted to smoke shop supply and distribution, eventually partnering with a historic Spanish paper mill to create RAW’s signature, natural rolling papers.
The brand took off in the late 2000s, fueled by hip-hop culture and a growing demand for cleaner smoking experiences. Today, RAW is a globally recognized brand, with its Organic Hemp papers produced in Benimarfull, Spain, using certified organic hemp from Southern France. In 2023, RAW launched the RAW Seeds Fellowship in partnership with the JUSTÜS Foundation, providing support to legacy cannabis operators who helped build the industry.
For more information, visit: rawthentic.com.
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