In March 2017 Epson filed a lawsuit against OW Supplies Corp., and Smart and Eazy Corp. for patent infringing cartridge sales by the two companies; in July 2017 the courts issued a consent judgement.
The two complaints were filed by Epson in March 2017 and “allege infringement of claims” of US patents 6,502,917 and 8,794,479. These “specific patent claims” were adjudicated as valid and enforceable in two well-publicised actions” at the United States International Trade Commission (USITC). The adjudications resulted in two General Exclusion Orders (GEOs) that “bar importation of all newly-built and remanufactured cartridges that infringe the claims”.
In the recently released judgement, the parties were seeking to terminate the litigation through the consent judgment issued by the courts.
The consent judgment was in regards to US patents ‘917 and ‘749 and granted Epson a permanent injunction against any reselling by the two companies of cartridges that infringe these patents.
All parties entered into a confidential settlement agreement.