Aster Graphics issued a company statement in response to Brother’s filed Section 337 complaint with the USITC against 32 companies.
Following on from the reported 337 complaint filed by Brother with the USITC against Aster Graphics and about 30 domestic and overseas manufacturers, distributors and resellers alleging patent infringement, the company has released a statement.
The company stated: “Aster Graphics always respects the intellectual property of third parties and our own innovation has been a core business initiative. Since our inception in 2011, Aster Graphics has registered over 300 patents worldwide, and the accused Brother cartridges are produced using 116 of our own design patent solutions.
“Aster will vigorously defend its products against this complaint. Our design, engineering and legal groups are already at work on the complaint and we do expect a favourable outcome. Aster’s legal team is comprised of the best USA and International law firms, all with a great amount of experience in Section 337 investigations before the U.S. International Trade Commission (“ITC”). Our customers are provided full indemnification and we will protect and defend the best interests of our company and customers.
“Aster Graphics has ascended to a leadership position in the imaging supply industry by producing products that are embedded with our own design innovations, many of which are protected by Aster’s valid and enforceable U.S Patent and Trademark office registered patents. Aster products have never been subject to a seizure order and our product supply has never been interrupted. Aster will endure in our mission to provide products that compete fairly and utilize Aster design technology.”
On Monday 19 August, Brother filed a Section 337 complaint with the USITC alleging that the proposed 32 respondents, including Aster import toner cartridges infringing Brother’s patents U.S. Patent No. 9,785,093 (‘093 Patent), U.S. Patent No. 9,575,460 (‘460 Patent), U.S. Patent No. 9,568,856 (‘856 Patent), U.S. Patent No. 9,632,456 (‘456 Patent) and U.S. Patent No. 9,846,387 (‘387 Patent).
