Patent protection has become an important part of strategy for many companies that offer supplies, including OEMs and aftermarket. The pace of court and ITC filings has dramatically increased and is expected to continue as a way for companies to protect intellectual property. The following report includes details on cases since 2010 and can be a case study for the aftermarket to follow and avoid being named in litigation.

This report is an update to the previous report published by InfoTrends in 2011 entitled OEMs Protect Supplies through Intellectual Property. Originally planned as a small addendum to the previous report, it became obvious that the rate of activity had not slowed down, but actually had increased since the last report. Paying attention to all aspects of the market, including patent protection, is on the top of all supplies-related companies' agendas. Companies that have not done due diligence in this regard have found out the hard way that is not something to overlook or that company will face significant challenges. This report provides a discussion of recent patent infringement cases currently in progress.

• Executive Summary
  Key Findings
  Recommendations
• Introduction
• U.S. International Trade Commission Complaints
  ITC Effectiveness
  ITC Changes
  Seizures and Forfeitures
• First Sale Doctrine
  Court Precedents
• Patent Cases
  American Imaging Cartridge, LLC; Innovative Cartridge Technology, Inc.; Platinum Manufacturing International, Inc.
  Canon Patent Cases
  Canon Terminates ITC Complaint (337-TA-731)
  Canon Initiates New ITC Complaint (337-TA-829) in Pursuit of Aftermarket for Drum Gears
  Canon Wins Ink Cartridge Suit in Japan
  Epson Shows New Path for Litigation
  Heiber Patent Licensing, Inc
  Hewlett-Packard Patent Cases
  HP is a Focus
  Role Reversal: Turbon Sues HP
  Lexmark Patent Cases
  Lexmark Issued GEO Order for Toner Patents
  Lexmark Sued by Aftermarket Company
  Print-Rite Company Sues another Aftermarket Company
  Samsung Notifies European Resellers
  Static Control Patent Cases
  Static Control Continues to Push Legal Strategy
  Static and Ricoh Settle
  Xerox Solid Ink
• Alternative Approach
• InfoTrends' Opinion
• Appendix
  Recent Court Cases
  Companies Involved in Multiple Patent Cases
  Named Patents in ITC Cases
• About the Author