HP and inkjet vendors settle dispute
By Wilson • Mar 19th, 2010 • Category: Industry News
- Photo: Hewlett Packard
Hewlett-Packard, the world’s largest computer manufacturer with a mind-blowing 300,000 strong workforce, has somehow managed to elude being newsworthy over the last 12 months. The last few weeks, however, have been anything but quiet for HP, with news emerging that it has settled its dispute with inkjet cartridge vendors.
Patent infringement
In sync with a disturbing trend among major computing companies, HP sued inkjet vendors in the US over patent infringement on technology used in HP inkjet printer devices. HP alleged companies like CompTree Ink, SmartOne Services, Zhuhai Gree Magneto-Electric and InkPlusToner.com were bringing patent-infringing inkjet supplies from abroad and retailing them in the United States.
The complaint, which was brought to the ITC in September of 2009, has been settled outside of court with CompTree Ink and InkPlusToner.com both agreeing to stop selling the inkjet supplies as well as pay unspecified damages. HP expects a settlement to be reached soon with SmartOne Services, while Zhuhai Gree Magneto-Electric agreed to stop selling products HP alleged were examples of patent infringement.
HP’s lucrative printer patents
- Photo: Xerox Corp
Outside of Xerox Corp, no other company owns as many valuable patents in document management as the HP Inkjet printer business unit. These patents have meant many companies inadvertently use HP’s technology in their printers, which has resulted in Hewlett-Packard filing similar suits many times over the years.
In March alone, HP has sued seven companies for patent infringement. The recipients of the lawsuits this time were the Mipo group with their Mipo Science & Technology, Mipo America and Mipo Technology, as well as Micro Jet, Sinotime Technologies, PTC Holdings and Mextec Group.
Hewlett-Packard has indicated that they are pleased with the outcome and the settlements, and have indicated they intend to continue their strategy of taking legal action against all competitors who infringe on the HP Inkjet printer technology.
Tags for this article: Inkjet printer, patent infringement
