D.C. Circuit rules on tobacco marketing

Read the Associated Press story here, as picked up by NPR. Here's the gist of the ruling in this criminal case:

The U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington upheld the major elements of a 2006 ruling that found the nation's top tobacco companies guilty of fraud and violating racketeering laws.

The ruling said manufacturers must change the way they market cigarettes. It bans labels such as "low tar," "light," "ultra light" or "mild," since such cigarettes have been found to be no safer than others because of how people smoke them.

It also says the companies must publish "corrective statements" on the adverse health effects and addictiveness of smoking and nicotine.

The changes ordered by the federal district court in 2006 had not taken effect while the case was on appeal.