R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. has been sued this Tuesday by six states for violating a nine-year-old ban on the use of cartoons in supporting cigarettes advertisements.

The lawsuit refers to the November edition of Rolling Stone magazine that mixes pages of camel cigarette advertising with pages on the theme of independent rock music in cartoon produced illustrations. The North-Caroline based company engaged not to use cartoons in an effort to end all tobacco marketing to children, but last month’s move is a big contradiction. California, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Washington decided to call the company to its task and file this lawsuit.

They will ask fines of $100 for every magazine sold in their state and $100 combined per hit on a related company site www.thefarmrocks.com. Also, they will ask for removal of all images in all Web sites and promotions and a fine equal to that paid as a cost of the advertisement which is going to be used for anti-smoking ads.

The 1998 settlement between 46 states and the tobacco industry includes reimbursement for smoking-related health care costs but also the banning of using cartoons in advertisements to prevent minors’ corruption. In case that every state involved in this settlement might join in this lawsuit the fines could exceed $100 million.