EPSON ALLEGES INK INFRINGEMENT

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Date: Monday February 27, 2006 10:40:00 am
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    Epson Alleges Ink Infringement
    Seiko Epson, Epson America, and Epson Portland have sued several companies for importing and/or distributing Epson ink cartridges throughout the United States without a proper license.
    In a complaint filed last week, Epson alleges that a total of 24 companies are aiding, abetting and knowingly inducing patent infringement by producing, importing and selling after-market Epson products without legal consent.
    “The list of companies against which we are asserting patent infringement claims….includes companies that manufacture in China, Germany, Korea and Mexico, as well as some U.S. companies that import cartridges,” said Pam Barnett Senior Manager, Public Relations and Events, Epson America Inc.
    According to Epson’s publicly filed District Court Complaint, the corporation alleges that the following import companies are infringing on its patents: Glory South Software, Nectron International, Mipo America, Nine Star Technology, Town Sky Inc., MMC Consumables, Inkjetwarehouse.com, Ribbon Tree (USA) Apex, Inc Tec (America), Dataproducts USA, Rhinotek and Acujet.
    In addition, Epson alleges that the following companies do not hold licenses to manufacture its ink cartridges for resale: Butterfly Print Image, Ink Lab, Mipo International, Nine Star Image, Zhuhai Gree Magneto-Electric, Tully Imaging Supplies, Wellink Trading Co., Ribbon Tree (Macao), Artech GmbH, Ink Tec (Korea) and Master Ink Co.
    Some large retail chains, such as CompUSA and Staples, buy ink from other firms and resell the ink cartridge — whiich the retailer marks as compatible with a certain make of printer — under its own house label. But Epson’s Barnett said it did not know if the companies named in its suit fell into that category.
    “We don’t know where all the major re-sellers obtain their cartridges but we know the companies named in the suit are large suppliers of aftermarket cartridges for Epson printers,” said Barnett. “We believe some resellers may change between suppliers.”
    Epson maintains that the patent infringement has caused irreparable damages. The company is seeking repayment for past damages — with interest — as well as attorneys’ fees. In addition, the company is demanding a jury trial to put a stop to all alleged and illegal infringement activities, according to officials. 

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