Multi-Union & Epson Reach Settlement
Multi Union Trading Company Ltd. has reached an agreement with the Seiko
Epson Group on two pending lawsuits.
Seiko Epson alleged patent infringement on specific Multi Union inkjet
cartridges often sold under its Print-Rite brand and filed action against the
company in the U.S. District Court in Portland, Ore. The suit was filed in April
2001 for 23 modelsand in March 2005 for an additional 49 models.
The settlement, which was reached after what Multi Union called in a
written statement “vigorous litigation” efforts, prohibits Multi Union from
selling the prescribed compatible inkjet cartridges within the United States.
Multi Union noted, however, that there are no restrictions on these cartridges
outside of the U.S.
The statement also said that although Multi Union was “fully prepared for
trial of the first-filed case” slated for Sept. 2005., both companies were able
to “settle both cases through mediation, thereby avoiding the huge costs and
burden of litigation.”