Australia bans logos on cigarette packaging  This is news that
broke earlier in the year. I thought it worth covering.  New
Australian legislation, due to be phased-in over six months from
January 2012, will force tobacco companies to use plain
packaging.  Generic cigarette packaging  Above: How packets will
look under 2012 regulations (photo: Reuters).  The tobacco giant
Philip Morris has launched legal action against the Australian
Government, arguing the move illegally diminishes the value of
their trademarks.  “We would anticipate that the compensation
would amount to billions.”  Imperial Tobacco, a global company
that produces brands like Davidoff and Gauloises, has created a
large advertising campaign against the plain packaging law that
features a stern, matronly figure who asks: “Do you really like
living in a nanny state?”  I’m with the Government on this one.
Update one: At first, reading the comment thread made me doubt
siding with the Government, but actually, the more I read, the
more I think th