Epson America and its dealer, Epic Office Solutions, have settled a legal battle over allegedly misleading printer ink yield claims, according to a court filing in California.
The dispute, lodged in February 2024, saw Texas-based Epic Office Solutions accuse Epson of fraud and negligent misrepresentation, alleging the Japanese-owned manufacturer overstated the efficiency of its high-end printers. Epic, Epson’s 2023 “Dealer of the Year”, claimed the devices consumed ink at rates far exceeding official specifications, eroding profits and damaging its business model.
Epic’s complaint alleged Epson supplied technical “spec sheets” stating black and colour cartridges could print up to 50,000 pages. Internal data from more than 1,700 leased machines allegedly showed yields as low as five colour pages per cartridge in extreme cases. Epic said this pushed costs from the promised $0.02 (€0.018) per colour page to as much as $175.50 (€160.46).
Between 2020 and 2023, Epic spent more than $7.6 million (€6.95 million) on Epson printers and consumables, according to the filing, and claimed additional monthly ink costs of $80,000 (€73,120). The lawsuit sought at least $20 million (€18.28 million) in damages, plus punitive awards.
Epson denied wrongdoing. The two sides reached agreement after private mediation, the notice of settlement states, with a formal written deal now being finalised. Terms remain confidential, in keeping with common US practice for commercial disputes.
