Epson recently filed a lawsuit against ARMOR S.A., a France-based manufacturer and distributor of aftermarket ink cartridges with subsidiaries around the world including Artech GmbH. The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court in Portland, Ore., alleges that at least 30 models of replacement inkjet cartridges for Epson Stylus printers manufactured by Artech GmbH infringe Epson’s patents. A total of 12 patents are asserted, with each cartridge alleged to infringe several patents. ARMOR cartridges are widely distributed at retail locations throughout the U.S.
According to a May 3 press release from ARMOR, the company “has not received any injunction and has not had an opportunity to investigate or respond to any of the reported allegations.”
As a result, the company has deemed “it would be premature for ARMOR to comment on the allegations raised in the subject lawsuit.”
In a separate case, Epson added 49 more cartridge models to its current patent infringement lawsuit against Multi-Union Trading Company Ltd., first filed in April 2001. Multi-Union cartridges are often sold in the U.S. under the Print-Rite brand and in generic packaging. In March 2005, a federal judge issued a summary judgment ruling that the defendant’s 23 cartridges referenced in the initial lawsuit infringe Epson''s patents. The second complaint alleges the same or substantially similar infringements by the additional 49 cartridge models.
In an April 28 statement released by Multi-Union Trading Company, company management “believes that this latest filing is an effort by Seiko Epson to secure leverage in existing litigation between the parties.” Management also claimed the latest action has not been properly served and said, “If Seiko Epson serves the complaint, Multi-Union will instruct its attorneys to analyze the allegations and underlying patents. We will then respond appropriately. We are determined to do everything within lawful bounds to protect our legal rights and the rights of consumers.”
