Epson wins ITC ruling to prevent import of third party ink cartridges

Long Beach (CA) - The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) confirmed a patent infringement complaint filed by Epson and recommended that third-party ink cartridges for Epson printers are barred from import into the U.S.

Epson’s complaint involved 24 U.S., Korean, German and Chinese companies that are currently importing and selling ink cartridges, which according to the ITC ruling, infringe on Epson’s patents. The ruling is expected to result in a general exclusion order to prevent the import of the cartridges ; until the order becomes effective, the judge recommended a cease and desist order to prevent the 24 companies from selling "infringing" cartridges.

Besides filing a complaint with the ITC, Epson had filed parallel actions in the U.S. District Court in Portland, Oregon, against the same 24 companies for compensatory damages and injunctive relief. Most of the accused companies settled with Epson or defaulted in the ITC action prior to trial, Epson said.