|
The Inkjet Supplies lawsuits put an industry in turmoil
Daniel Roberts Family & Faith: My Family and Faith I can thank God for many years experience - rewarding in every way. See also CV My Family I have ..... The Inkjet Supplies - lawsuits put an industry in turmoil.
Since late last year the industry has been in turmoil, largely due to the number of lawsuits issued by Epson. In the UK several companies received suits alleging patent infringement. The patent situation is a total minefield - (Incartek has done some work on it). It is beyond the budget of any company even to keep pace with all of the patents which are filed. Many are filed, we believe for the wrong reasons - some blatantly full of prior art.
Then there was the Class 337 action in the USA where 24 companies were attacked - some US companies, some US subsidiaries or associates of Chinese or European companies - and some non-resident. I have done an analysis - e-mail me to receive a copy.
If you are interested in a multi-client exercise to identify US, UK and European patents and make a preliminary analysis of them please contact patents@incartek.com - or call me.
In the solid ink supplies Xerox and Media Sciences are at loggerheads. Media Sciences considers Xerox's conduct a violation of their 2001 settlement, agreed after a litigation initiated by Media Sciences in 1999.
And HP has been after some retailers selling cartridges where they allege that the ink used violates its patents.
The aftermarket industry is fighting back. In the US there is the Class Action suit - for users who complain that Epson cartridges are registering empty when there is still unused ink. For more information see www.epsonsettlement.com .
ETIRA - the European Toner and Inkjet Remanufacturers' Association is responding by emphasising the quality and the environmental benefits of the alternative products.
For more information please contact
Daniel Roberts
Incartek (Ink Cartridge Technologies Ltd)
daniel@incartek.com
www.incartek.com
|
