Epson sues Vintrick and Straightouttaink for IP infringement

December 20, 2019

Epson has sued two companies, firstly California based Vintrick Inc, and President of the company Xiaodong Hu and secondly California based Straightouttaink and Nahn Ho, the sole general partner of defendant Straightouttaink. Both actions allege a breach of Epson’s IP.

On 18 December Epson (collectively Seiko Epson Corporation, Epson America, and Epson Portland) sued two companies, firstly California based Vintrick Inc, and President of the company Xiaodong Hu and secondly California based Straightouttaink and Nahn Ho, the sole general partner of defendant Straightouttaink. Both actions allege a breach of Epson’s IP.

This is action alleges the defendants breached Epson’s US patents No. 6,955,422 (“the ‘422 patent”), No. 8,794,749 (“the ‘749 patent”), and No. 8,454,116 (“the ‘116 patent”).

Epson alleges that the defendant Straightouttaink sold infringing products on the internet under the name “discountinkllc” and through at least their online store located at discountinkllc.com and through their listings and/or storefronts on eBay.com and myshopify.com

In May 2017, the United States International Trade Commission (“ITC”) issued a Seizure and Forfeiture Order in the 337-TA-565 ITC Investigation, against the defendant, ordering that ink cartridges and components that are imported in violation of the general exclusion order issued in the investigation are to be seized and forfeited to the United States, if imported by Straightouttaink, or any affiliated companies, parents, subsidiaries, or other related business entities, or any of their successors or assigns.

Epson alleges that the defendant Vintrick Inc sold infringing products on the internet under various seller names, including but not limited to “GC- Printing,” “JieJieGao,” “Eurowayoo,” “Gucoco,” and “Perfect-Office through their listings and/or storefronts on amazon.com; “super_inker,” “print-kingdom,” “jaylen67,” “zilionyen2016,” and “kiet_1” through their listings and/or storefronts on ebay.com; and “printchainstore,” and “win-tinten” through their listings and/or storefronts on newegg.com. Directly through amazon.com, ebay.com, and newegg.com.

Epson is seeking that their patents valid and enforceable and that the defendants have infringed Epson’s Patents and that the infringement is wilful. Epson further seeks that the defendants and their subsidiaries, affiliates, parents, successors, assigns, officers, agents, representatives, servants, and employees, and all persons in active concert or participation with them, be preliminarily and permanently enjoined from continued infringement of the Epson Patents.

Epson is seeking trial by jury and treble damages and interest and legal costs.