<i>Australian court approves tobacco pack logo ban</i>

Global tobacco firms lost a "watershed" court challenge to Australia's plain packaging laws for cigarettes yesterday in a closely-watched case health advocates said would have a worldwide impact.
The decision means that from December 1 cigarettes and tobacco products must be sold in plain olive green packets with graphic health warnings, such as pictures of mouth cancer and other smoking-related illnesses.
Although the impact of Australia on their global business is small, the law could have a major effect if it is adopted as a precedent in other countries, especially the fast-growing economies that cigarette firms see as markets of the future.
The laws are in line with World Health Organisation recommendations and are being watched closely by countries including Britain, Norway, New Zealand, Canada and India, who are considering similar measures to help fight smoking.
British American Tobacco (BATS.L), Britain's Imperial Tobacco (IMT.L), Philip Morris (PM.N) and Japan Tobacco (2914.T) challenged the laws in Australia's High Court, claiming the rules were unconstitutional because they effectively extinguished their intellectual property rights.
In a brief statement, the High Court said a majority of its seven judges believed the laws did not breach Australia's constitution. A full judgement will be released later.
The World Health Organisation estimates that more than 1 billion people around the world are regular smokers, with 80 percent in low- and middle-income countries.