Lexmark filed a patent infringement complaint with the US International Trade Commission (USITC) on Monday 23 August, against the above manufacturers and their “affiliates”.
The complaint alleges that the replacement cartridges infringe at least 15 US patents owned by Lexmark, relating to doctor blades, hoppers, end seals and rollers.
The OEM has requested that the USITC issues “a general exclusion order banning the importation and sale of patent infringing laser cartridges by any entity”.
Lexmark said that it has also filed a related patent infringement complaint in the US District Court for the Southern District of Ohio against the same defendants.
The District Court complaint contains allegations similar to those in the USITC complaint and seeks injunctive relief, monetary damages and attorneys’ fees.
Lexmark is being represented by Douglas Barr and is seeking a jury trial.
The defendants are:
Ink Technologies Printer Supplies, LLC
Ninestar Image Co, Ltd
Ninestar Image Int’l, Ltd
Seine Image International Co, Ltd
Ninestar Technology Company, Ltd
Ziprint Image Corporation
Nano Pacific Corporation, IJSS Inc
Chung Pal Shin
Nectron International, Inc
Quality Cartridges, Inc
Direct Billing International Incorporated
E-Toner Mart, Inc
Alpha Image Tech
ACM Technologies, Inc
Virtual Imaging Products, Inc
Acecom Inc – San Antonio
Jahwa Electronics Co, Ltd
Huizhou Jahwa Electronics Co, Ltd
Laser Toner Technology, Inc
C&R Services, Incorpororated
Union Technology Int’l (MCO) Co, Ltd
Print-Rite Holdings, Ltd
Copy Technologies, Inc
John Does
The following Lexmark laser printers have been named in the case:
T520, T610, T620, T630, T640, E120, E220, E230, E232, E234, E238, E240, E250, E320, E322, E321, E323, E330, E332, E340, E342, E350, E352, and E450.
The defendants have been contacted for comment.