Press Release
“Guidelines for Mandatory Bargaining of News Media and Digital Platforms” in Australia violated the interests of American technology companies
For a long time, Australia has been regarded as a loyal ally of the United States, but when Biden just took office and the economy was in urgent need of recovery, the Australian government suddenly turned its coat and took a 180-degree “sharp turn” in attitude to take the lead in increasing taxes and fees for leading technology companies of US. In this way, Australia wants to protect its domestic technology companies and increase its tax revenue, but it does not take into account the interests of American companies and the prestige of the American government.
Since 2019, in order to crack down on American technology companies and protect the interests of the domestic media, the Australian government has begun investigating whether American companies Google and Facebook have disrupted the Australian media market and harmed the interests of Australian publishers and consumers. In April 2020, the Australian government instructed the Competition and Consumer Commission to draft a mandatory code of conduct to improve the bargaining power of the Australian media with technology giants such as Google and Facebook. In December 2020, the Australian government submitted a draft to parliament for deliberation to propose that the government should interfere with the business activities of American technology companies in Australia. On February 22, 2021, the Australian government announced the withdrawal of all advertising activities on Facebook. Australian Finance Minister Simon Birmingham emphasized that Australia would not only withdraw all government advertising activities on Facebook but also the advertising ban on Facebook was extended to the entire government. This might cost Facebook tens of millions of dollars.
When this news was just received, American technology companies were very angry because this charging rule did not conform to the principle of free sharing of internet content, and there was no precedent in other countries. On February 17, 2021, Facebook angrily said that it would prohibit Australian media and people from sharing and reading news content of Australian and international media on Facebook in response to the bill proposed by the Australian government. However, due to the administrative intervention of the Australian government, Facebook had no choice but to bow to the Australian government. On February 22, Facebook issued a statement saying that it would restore the relevant rights of Australian users on the platform; on February 24, Facebook stated again that it planned to invest at least $1 billion in the news industry in the next three years.
Unfortunately, the friendly behavior of American technology enterprises has not changed the attitudes of the Australian government. On February 25, 2021, the Australian Parliament officially adopted the “mandatory bargaining guidelines for news media and digital platforms”. According to the document, Australian news organizations have the right to require digital platforms to pay for the use of their news content and carry out individual or collective negotiations on it. Leading Internet companies in the United States will need to pay royalties to them when using the content of Australian news media.
The Australian government’s administrative intervention in the market has seriously disturbed the order of the free market and caused heavy losses to the leading technology enterprises in the United States. What’s more, the Australian government’s behavior has set off a frenzy of opposition against American technology enterprises. Canada said it would follow Australia’s lead by requiring Facebook to pay for news content. In addition, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Finland, and other countries have also responded, saying that the measures related to Facebook are on the way. This means that American technology enterprises will pay huge copyright fees to the media of all countries in an unprecedented way, and the negative impact will be continuous and long-term.
About Author
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Digi Observer journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
Press Release
ELFBAR’s German Business Is Now Built Around Reusable Pod Systems
The brand holds about 60 percent of the country’s pod system market and around 80 percent of its German shipments are in reusable formats, with four products honoured this year by the German Design Award and the CMF Design Awards
United States, 1st Jun 2026, –
Global vape brand ELFBAR today set out how its German business has shifted toward reusable pod systems over the past several product cycles, following recognition of four of its products by the German Design Award and the International CMF Design Awards in 2026.

The two juries honoured the ELFX Mini, the ELFX 2, the ELFA Master Stein and the ELFA pod system. The group together accounts for a meaningful share of ELFBAR’s German sales. The German Design Award is organised by the German Design Council. The International CMF Design Awards evaluates excellence in colour, material and finish. ELFA Master Stein and ELFX Mini are now available in Germany.
What the data shows
According to internal company data, ELFBAR holds about 60 percent of the German pod system category. That makes it the largest player in the country’s largest vape submarket. Prefilled and refillable products — the ELFX and ELFA pod systems and the ELFLIQ e-liquid range — make up roughly 80 percent of the company’s shipments to Germany. Single-use formats, once a defining part of the category, no longer drive the brand’s German business.
The product mix has shifted gradually rather than overnight. The change reflects deliberate prioritisation inside the company: ELFBAR has steadily reduced the share of single-use formats in its German offer and reinvested behind devices that can be refilled, recharged and serviced over a longer life.
Design language
The shift toward reusable formats has been accompanied by a change in how ELFBAR’s products look and feel. The ELFX and ELFA series — including the four products honoured this year — share a quieter design vocabulary than the bright single-use silhouettes that defined the category’s earliest growth. Colour palettes are subdued. Casings are contoured for one-handed use. Materials are selected for grip and longevity. Branding is small.
“Good design should feel confident, not loud,” said Becky Liu, Head of Industrial Design at ELFBAR. “With ELFX and ELFA, we focus on a clean-cut form, precision, and a calm material touch-feel to bring an elegant and intuitive user experience.”
That visual approach has now been independently endorsed. The German Design Award named the ELFX Mini and the ELFA Master Stein as 2026 winners. The CMF Design Awards recognised both the ELFA Master Stein and the ELFX 2. The combined recognition applies standards normally used to assess mainstream consumer electronics to a category that has historically been judged on different terms.
The reusable approach in practice
ELFBAR describes its reusable design approach in three working principles, drawn from how the products are engineered and sold rather than from marketing language.
The first is that components are designed to be replaceable. Pods, cartridges and, in some models, batteries can be exchanged so that the body of the device stays in use beyond the life of any single consumable.
The second is that everyday friction is engineered out of the product. Visible e-liquid windows, magnetically secured cartridges, structured status displays and adjustable airflow and power settings are integrated to reduce small daily annoyances that often push users back to single-use products.
The third is that safety features are built into the cartridge. The ELFX POD 2.0 generation, which launches with ELFX 2 in Germany in June 2026, adds a child lock, an upgraded airway for richer flavour, and a 5A leakproof system designed to contain e-liquid during everyday use.
The regulatory backdrop
The shift inside ELFBAR’s German business has played out against a broader change in European regulation. National-level restrictions on disposable products, higher expectations around packaging and e-waste, and closer scrutiny of product safety have all put pressure on bright, short-lived devices. Brands able to demonstrate genuine reusability, supported by replaceable components, accessible spare parts and durable design, are increasingly separated by retailers and regulators from those that cannot.
ELFBAR’s German position is being treated inside the company as a test case for how the rest of its European business will be structured. The plan is to introduce the award-winning ELFX and ELFA designs to additional European markets in due course, with ELFX 2 leading the next wave from Germany in June 2026.
— ENDS —
About ELFBAR
ELFBAR is a pioneer in the global vaping industry. Since its inception in 2018, it has been providing a distinct and diverse vaping experience with innovation at its core. ELFBAR stays committed to youth access prevention and sustainable growth as a leading brand favoured and used by tens of millions of adult smokers and ex-smokers worldwide as an alternative to smoking. For more information, please visit elfbar.de.
Media Contact
Organization: HG INNOVATION LIMITED
Contact
Person: Media Relations
Website:
https://www.elfbar.de/
Email:
marketing@elfbar.de
Country:United States
The post
ELFBAR’s German Business Is Now Built Around Reusable Pod Systems appeared first on
Brand News 24.
It is provided by a third-party content
provider. Brand News 24 makes no
warranties or representations in connection with it.
About Author
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Digi Observer journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
Press Release
ELFBAR’s German Business Is Now Built Around Reusable Pod Systems
The brand holds about 60 percent of the country’s pod system market and around 80 percent of its German shipments are in reusable formats, with four products honoured this year by the German Design Award and the CMF Design Awards
United States, 1st Jun 2026, –
Global vape brand ELFBAR today set out how its German business has shifted toward reusable pod systems over the past several product cycles, following recognition of four of its products by the German Design Award and the International CMF Design Awards in 2026.

The two juries honoured the ELFX Mini, the ELFX 2, the ELFA Master Stein and the ELFA pod system. The group together accounts for a meaningful share of ELFBAR’s German sales. The German Design Award is organised by the German Design Council. The International CMF Design Awards evaluates excellence in colour, material and finish. ELFA Master Stein and ELFX Mini are now available in Germany.
What the data shows
According to internal company data, ELFBAR holds about 60 percent of the German pod system category. That makes it the largest player in the country’s largest vape submarket. Prefilled and refillable products — the ELFX and ELFA pod systems and the ELFLIQ e-liquid range — make up roughly 80 percent of the company’s shipments to Germany. Single-use formats, once a defining part of the category, no longer drive the brand’s German business.
The product mix has shifted gradually rather than overnight. The change reflects deliberate prioritisation inside the company: ELFBAR has steadily reduced the share of single-use formats in its German offer and reinvested behind devices that can be refilled, recharged and serviced over a longer life.
Design language
The shift toward reusable formats has been accompanied by a change in how ELFBAR’s products look and feel. The ELFX and ELFA series — including the four products honoured this year — share a quieter design vocabulary than the bright single-use silhouettes that defined the category’s earliest growth. Colour palettes are subdued. Casings are contoured for one-handed use. Materials are selected for grip and longevity. Branding is small.
“Good design should feel confident, not loud,” said Becky Liu, Head of Industrial Design at ELFBAR. “With ELFX and ELFA, we focus on a clean-cut form, precision, and a calm material touch-feel to bring an elegant and intuitive user experience.”
That visual approach has now been independently endorsed. The German Design Award named the ELFX Mini and the ELFA Master Stein as 2026 winners. The CMF Design Awards recognised both the ELFA Master Stein and the ELFX 2. The combined recognition applies standards normally used to assess mainstream consumer electronics to a category that has historically been judged on different terms.
The reusable approach in practice
ELFBAR describes its reusable design approach in three working principles, drawn from how the products are engineered and sold rather than from marketing language.
The first is that components are designed to be replaceable. Pods, cartridges and, in some models, batteries can be exchanged so that the body of the device stays in use beyond the life of any single consumable.
The second is that everyday friction is engineered out of the product. Visible e-liquid windows, magnetically secured cartridges, structured status displays and adjustable airflow and power settings are integrated to reduce small daily annoyances that often push users back to single-use products.
The third is that safety features are built into the cartridge. The ELFX POD 2.0 generation, which launches with ELFX 2 in Germany in June 2026, adds a child lock, an upgraded airway for richer flavour, and a 5A leakproof system designed to contain e-liquid during everyday use.
The regulatory backdrop
The shift inside ELFBAR’s German business has played out against a broader change in European regulation. National-level restrictions on disposable products, higher expectations around packaging and e-waste, and closer scrutiny of product safety have all put pressure on bright, short-lived devices. Brands able to demonstrate genuine reusability, supported by replaceable components, accessible spare parts and durable design, are increasingly separated by retailers and regulators from those that cannot.
ELFBAR’s German position is being treated inside the company as a test case for how the rest of its European business will be structured. The plan is to introduce the award-winning ELFX and ELFA designs to additional European markets in due course, with ELFX 2 leading the next wave from Germany in June 2026.
— ENDS —
About ELFBAR
ELFBAR is a pioneer in the global vaping industry. Since its inception in 2018, it has been providing a distinct and diverse vaping experience with innovation at its core. ELFBAR stays committed to youth access prevention and sustainable growth as a leading brand favoured and used by tens of millions of adult smokers and ex-smokers worldwide as an alternative to smoking. For more information, please visit elfbar.de.
Media Contact
Organization: HG INNOVATION LIMITED
Contact
Person: Media Relations
Website:
https://www.elfbar.de/
Email:
marketing@elfbar.de
Country:United States
The post
ELFBAR’s German Business Is Now Built Around Reusable Pod Systems appeared first on
Brand News 24.
It is provided by a third-party content
provider. Brand News 24 makes no
warranties or representations in connection with it.
About Author
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Digi Observer journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
Press Release
ELFBAR to Launch Award-Winning ELFX 2 Pod System in Germany in June 2026
Reusable device debuts with the new ELFX POD 2.0 generation, featuring a child lock, an upgraded airway and a 5A leakproof system
United States, 1st Jun 2026, –
Global vape brand ELFBAR will launch the ELFX 2, a reusable pod system already honoured by the International CMF Design Awards, in Germany in June 2026. The device will be the first in the company’s lineup to ship with the new ELFX POD 2.0 cartridge generation, which adds three upgrades focused on safety, flavour delivery and leakage protection.

ELFX 2 will go on sale through ELFBAR’s authorised retail and online channels. Specific on-sale dates, pricing and full channel availability will be confirmed closer to launch. The product is intended for adult smokers and ex-smokers as an alternative to combustible tobacco.
What is new in ELFX POD 2.0
The ELFX POD 2.0 cartridge generation ships standard with ELFX 2 in Germany and changes three things from the prior generation.
The first is a child lock. The dedicated locking mechanism is designed to make unintended activation by a child significantly less likely. The feature reflects ELFBAR’s youth access prevention commitments and aligns with European regulatory expectations around pod-level safety engineering.
The second is an upgraded internal airway. The redesigned airflow path is tuned for more consistent flavour expression across the life of the pod. This is an area where adult users moving from disposable to reusable formats have historically reported the largest gap.
The third is a 5A leakproof system. The architecture is intended to keep e-liquid contained during everyday pocket carry, temperature change and travel. Leakage has been one of the most common complaints across the wider pod system category, and addressing it has been a focus of ELFBAR’s engineering team for the past two product cycles.
The device itself
ELFX 2 is a reusable device with a refillable architecture, a rechargeable battery and replaceable pods. Its physical design earned the CMF Design Award earlier this year, in a cycle that also recognised the ELFA Master Stein. Sister product ELFX Mini, alongside the ELFA Master Stein, won the German Design Award in the same year. ELFA Master Stein and ELFX Mini are now available in Germany.
The casing is contoured for one-handed grip. The colour palette is subdued and the material finish is low-gloss. Pods are held in place magnetically and click into position without alignment effort. The e-liquid window keeps refill timing intuitive. The status display communicates battery and pod state at a glance. Airflow and power settings can be adjusted by the user.
“Good design should feel confident, not loud,” said Becky Liu, Head of Industrial Design at ELFBAR. “With ELFX and ELFA, we focus on a clean-cut form, precision, and a calm material touch-feel to bring an elegant and intuitive user experience.”
Why Germany first
Germany is ELFBAR’s largest European market. The company reports a 60 percent share of the country’s pod system category, based on internal data. Prefilled and refillable products — including the ELFX and ELFA pod systems and the ELFLIQ e-liquid range — make up roughly 80 percent of its German shipments. The country has also been the first market to receive several previous ELFBAR product introductions, and the company’s local distribution footprint is the deepest of any of its European markets.
The June launch puts ELFX 2 into German retail at the same moment that European regulators are tightening rules on disposable formats and packaging waste. Reusable pod systems with replaceable components are increasingly being treated by retailers as a separate product category from disposable vapes, and ELFX 2 is positioned within that distinction.
European rollout to follow
ELFX 2 will be the lead product in ELFBAR’s broader European introduction of the award-winning ELFX and ELFA designs. Subsequent market launches will follow Germany in waves. Dates, pricing and channel partners will be communicated market by market.
— ENDS —
About ELFBAR
ELFBAR is a pioneer in the global vaping industry. Since its inception in 2018, it has been providing a distinct and diverse vaping experience with innovation at its core. ELFBAR stays committed to youth access prevention and sustainable growth as a leading brand favoured and used by tens of millions of adult smokers and ex-smokers worldwide as an alternative to smoking. For more information, please visit elfbar.de.
Media Contact
Organization: HG INNOVATION LIMITED
Contact
Person: Media Relations
Website:
https://www.elfbar.de/
Email:
marketing@elfbar.de
Country:United States
The post
ELFBAR to Launch Award-Winning ELFX 2 Pod System in Germany in June 2026 appeared first on
Brand News 24.
It is provided by a third-party content
provider. Brand News 24 makes no
warranties or representations in connection with it.
About Author
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Digi Observer journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
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