HP files suit against ink refill company

By Shaun Nichols on Nov 10, 2006 9:48 AM
Filed under Hardware

Do-it-yourself kits allegedly violate HP's ink patents.

HP is suing a maker of do-it-yourself printer cartridge refill kits for allegedly violating its ink patents.

The company has filed a complaint in Germany against a subsidiary of InkTec, a Korea-based manufacturer of inks and home refill kits for HP and other major printer brands, including Canon, Lexmark, Epson and Xerox.

According to HP, the complaint was filed after InkTec inks in Germany were found to be violating HP's patented formulations.

HP said that it has been testing inks for the past year and investigating companies that run refilling stations or distribute home refill kits and generic replacement cartridges.

The company claims to have uncovered several other instances of patent infringement during the investigation.

"With more than 4,000 supplies patents, representing a deep heritage of innovation, HP will continue to vigorously defend intellectual property violations wherever and whenever they are discovered," said Pradeep Jotwani, senior vice president of HP's Supplies, Imaging and Printing group.

InkTec was founded in 1992 and distributes its products to 130 countries, according to the company's website.

Aside from inks and refill kits, the firm also sells remanufactured cartridges, printing paper and film. InkTec claims to hold over 60 intellectual property rights of its own.