U.S. JUDGE ALLOWS SPYING COUNTER-CLAIMS AGAINST SEIKO-EPSON

[Anonymous]

U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE ALLOWS
SPYING COUNTER-CLAIMS AGAINST SEIKO-EPSON CORPORATION.
U.S. District Judge Allows Green Project, Inc. to Continue
Corporate Spying Claims Against Seiko Epson
LOS ANGELES, CA — Judge Anna J. Brown of the U.S. District
Court, District of Oregon, has upheld Green Project Inc.’s
(www.greenprojectinc.com) counter-suit against Seiko Epson which is
based on Green Project’s claims of misappropriation of trade secrets,
trespass and unfair competition. The court case stems from an alleged
corporate espionage incident between the two companies.

The
original lawsuit, brought by Seiko Epson, one of the world’s largest
inkjet manufacturer’s, and Green Project’s counter-suit, both are now
continuing in the discovery phase.

Judge Brown’s order, delivered
Jan. 5, 2010, affirms the merit of the counter-suit filed by Green
Project against Seiko Epson on July 27, 2009. The ruling was
enthusiastically received as an indicator of the eventual vindication of
Green Project, according to Thomas Chan, managing partner of Chan Law
Group and counsel to Green Project.

“The fact that Judge Brown
declined Seiko Epson’s motion to dismiss Green Project’s counter-suit
strongly indicates the validity of our claims against Seiko Epson, a
Japanese corporate giant that chose to profit from the U.S. but also
chose to be disdainful of protecting the environment from which it
profits,” Chan said.

Joseph Wu, president of Green Project, a
Los-Angeles based environmentally dedicated entrepreneurial company,
added, “I am gratified that Judge Brown recognized that our claims are
strong enough to go forward with our case against Seiko Epson.”

The
two-year-old company provides consumers with an environmentally sound
alternative through the recycling of inkjet cartridges. Studies indicate
that approximately 350 million cartridges wind up in landfills
throughout North America each year, illuminating the need to find ways
of keeping the plastic and unused ink out of the ground.

The
original lawsuit by Seiko Epson against Green Project claimed patent
infringement. Green Project strongly disputes that claim and has
counter-sued seeking damages against Seiko Epson and one of its
employees, Herbert W. Seitz, who is accused of surreptitiously gaining
access to Green Project’s premises and to its competitive business
information by pretending to be a potential customer.

In ruling
on Seiko Epson’s motion for dismissal, Judge Brown stated, “The court
concludes Green Project’s allegations as to the measures it took to
protect its purported trade secrets are sufficient to state a
counterclaim for misappropriation of trade secrets.”

She also
ruled: “The Court finds Green Project’s allegations that (Herbert W.)
Seitz entered Green Project’s warehouse without permission through an
entrance located on private property that is not open to the public are
sufficient to state a counterclaim for trespass.”

Green Project,
Inc.
Based in Hacienda Heights, Calif., Green Project Inc. is a
fast-growing start-up that specializes in recycling ink and toner
cartridges. The company provides products for all of the major
manufacturers of inkjet printers, including inkjet cartridges and laser
toners. The company has a strong environmental orientation and has
chosen to focus on providing recycled products, thus saving the earth
from further environmental harm caused by discarded inkjet cartridges
and used ink. More information is available at http://www.greenprojectinc.com.
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/us-district-judge-allows-green,1114395.shtml

[Author]

January 11, 2010 at 11:30 AM