03.09.18
Epson announced that Epson America, Inc., Epson Portland Inc. and Seiko Epson Corp. filed two patent infringement complaints, one on March 1, 2018 against Try The Ink, LLC/InkPro2day, LLC and another on March 2, 2018 against E-Z Ink Inc.
The complaints allege infringement of claims from US Patent 6,502,917, US Patent 8,794,749, and US Patent 8,454,116. These patent claims were already adjudicated in well-publicized actions filed with the US International Trade Commission (ITC), resulting in two General Exclusion Orders barring the importation of all newly built and remanufactured cartridges that infringe the claims.
These two additional lawsuits underscore Epson’s expansion of its enforcement efforts to include infringing sellers of large format printer cartridges and remanufactured cartridges using third-party infringing circuit boards. Epson’s concerted campaign is focused on protecting Epson’s intellectual property and ensuring that legitimate resellers can compete fairly for sales of printer supplies for Epson printers.
Epson’s enforcement program has included the following broad range of efforts to reach infringers throughout the distribution and sales channels.
“We are encouraged that our enforcement programs have resulted in compliance on top internet marketplaces, which largely sell consumer and business inkjet printer cartridges,” said Jilana Miller, assistant general counsel for Epson. “However, we continue to address the persistent culture of infringement and unfair competition perpetrated on internet marketplaces and through other channels. These recent complaints mark an expansion of our program to include enforcement against resellers of large format printer cartridges and remanufactured cartridges that negatively impact fair competition.”
The complaints allege infringement of claims from US Patent 6,502,917, US Patent 8,794,749, and US Patent 8,454,116. These patent claims were already adjudicated in well-publicized actions filed with the US International Trade Commission (ITC), resulting in two General Exclusion Orders barring the importation of all newly built and remanufactured cartridges that infringe the claims.
These two additional lawsuits underscore Epson’s expansion of its enforcement efforts to include infringing sellers of large format printer cartridges and remanufactured cartridges using third-party infringing circuit boards. Epson’s concerted campaign is focused on protecting Epson’s intellectual property and ensuring that legitimate resellers can compete fairly for sales of printer supplies for Epson printers.
Epson’s enforcement program has included the following broad range of efforts to reach infringers throughout the distribution and sales channels.
“We are encouraged that our enforcement programs have resulted in compliance on top internet marketplaces, which largely sell consumer and business inkjet printer cartridges,” said Jilana Miller, assistant general counsel for Epson. “However, we continue to address the persistent culture of infringement and unfair competition perpetrated on internet marketplaces and through other channels. These recent complaints mark an expansion of our program to include enforcement against resellers of large format printer cartridges and remanufactured cartridges that negatively impact fair competition.”