Epson Files Three New Lawsuits Against Internet Resellers of Patent Infringing Ink Cartridges

Epson announced that Epson America Inc., Epson Portland Inc. and Seiko Epson Corp. filed three patent infringement complaints on March 3, 2016 in the US District Court in Portland, OR against Gaea Supplies Corp.; OW Supplies Corp and Smart and Eazy Corp; and Ta Trix USA Inc. The complaints allege infringement of claims from U.S. Patent 6,502,917 and U.S. Patent 8,794,749.
 
These specific patent claims were already adjudicated as valid and enforceable in two well publicized actions filed with the US International Trade Commission (ITC), resulting in General Exclusion Orders that bar importation of all newly built and remanufactured cartridges that infringe the claims.
 
The lawsuits filed today against merchants selling on the Amazon Marketplace supplement four lawsuits filed in late 2016, which similarly allege extensive sales of patent infringing cartridges and seek permanent injunctions against further infringements and monetary damages.
 
“As part of a comprehensive enforcement program, Epson continues to file lawsuits against Internet resellers who persist in selling infringing cartridges despite widespread publicity of the General Exclusion Orders and Epson’s enforcement activities,” said Jilana Miller, Epson’s associate general counsel.  “We are seeing considerable voluntary compliance and strongly suggest that resellers who continue to sell compatible and remanufactured cartridges on Internet marketplaces seek patent counsel to ensure they are not infringing Epson’s patents and violating the General Exclusion Orders.”