American Imaging Cartridge, Innovative Cartridge Technology and Platinum Manufacturing International initiated the case on 14 December in Florida Middle District Court.
The defendants are accused of infringing a string of patents relating to universal toner chips, primarily used in relation to the Lexmark T630 and T640 monochrome laser printers. The patents are; 7,136,608, 7,286,774, 7,187,874, 7,512,360, 7,551,859, 7,068,954, 7,106,993, 7,136,607, 7,362,988, 7,447,464, and 7,174,123. Summaries of all 11 patents can be found at the US Patent and Trademark Office here.
In full, the defendants are;
ACM Technologies, Inc.
Alpha Image Tech
Arlington Industries, Inc.
Cardinal Cartridge, Inc.
Densigraphix, Inc.
Diamond Digital Group, Inc.
E-Toner Mart, Inc.
Imageworks, Inc.
Ink Technologies Printer Supplies, LLC
K&W International Development, Inc.
K&W Imaging, Inc.
Kalon Corp.
Kalon International
Kwi Group Corp.
Laser Technology, Inc.
Copy Technologies, Inc.
LD Products, Inc.
LTS Technology, Inc.
Matric Kolor, Inc.
Sinotime Technologies, Inc.
Mextec Group, Inc.
Mipo America Ltd.
Monoprice, Inc.
Nano Pacific Corp.
Power Imaging Supply, Inc.
Printer Essentials.com, Inc.
R&L Imaging Group, Inc.
Target Imaging Ltd.
TTI Imaging, Inc.
Also included are the individuals Ronald Roman, doing business as RTR Enterprises, “John Doe 1”, doing business as BB Office Supplies, and “John Does 2-10”, listed as sellers, manufacturers, importers or distributors that deal with ink cartridges and chips.
Plaintiffs American Imaging Cartridge and Platinum Manufacturing International also launched legal action against Schoon Manufacturing on 24 November, alleging violations of many of the same patents as the December case.
Innovative Cartridge Technology is also co-plaintiff in Static Control’s 2008 lawsuit against Uninet Imaging. Platinum is involved in a 2008 lawsuit against Uninet, as well as being defendant in a 2010 case in which Uninet is the plaintiff.
Several of the defending supply companies, including Mipo, Mextec and Sinotime, have been involved in legal action from OEMs over a variety of patent issues.