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Commenting on the High Court's ruling against tobacco companies' challenge on plain packaging rules, Christopher Snowdon, Head of Lifestyle Economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs said:

"This is a bad day for intellectual property and a good day for counterfeiters. Plain packaging will inconvenience retailers and fuel Britain's already vast black market. Moreover, now that the government has abolished trade marks for one industry, single issue fanatics will be lining up to do the same to alcohol, food and soft drinks. It is a folly on every level." 

Notes to editors: 

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